Skimming

Skimming, in its broadest sense, is the act of quickly and superficially reading or examining something to grasp its main points or to extract specific information. This process involves rapidly moving the eyes across text, ignoring details and focusing on key elements like headings, topic sentences, keywords, and visuals. Skimming is a time-saving technique employed when a comprehensive understanding isn't required, but a general overview or specific data points are. It can also be used to determine the relevance of a document or article before committing to a more in-depth reading.

Skimming meaning with examples

• During the board meeting, the CEO spent most of the time Skimming the financial reports. She wanted a quick overview of the company's performance, not an exhaustive analysis of every transaction. This allowed her to focus on the key takeaways and make informed decisions efficiently.
• Before starting her research paper, Sarah spent several hours Skimming articles to identify potential sources. She rapidly assessed each document's relevance, quickly deciding which were worth a deeper dive. Skimming helped her narrow down her options and save valuable time.
• The detective quickly skimmed the police report, looking for any inconsistencies or clues that would lead him to the suspect. His trained eye and rapid Skimming technique enabled him to spot the most important pieces of evidence.
• When he realized the book wasn't captivating, the reader began Skimming through it. He skipped pages and chapters, only reading specific parts that would help him get the main idea of the story. He quickly lost interest in the book.
• The secretary began Skimming through the emails, separating the urgent ones from the less important ones. This helped her prioritize her tasks, focusing on the messages that required immediate attention and quickly addressing the crucial matters.