84%
of readers scan, not read.
Write for
scanners.
Not readers.
HOW EYES MOVE
The F-Pattern:
1. Top horizontal sweep
2. Second horizontal sweep
3. Left vertical scan
Eye-tracking research. Not guesswork.
Your readers
are hunting,
not reading.
The first two words
of every line matter most.
Front load your key information.
Or lose them immediately.
Everything else is just noise.
Don't build up. Start with conclusions.
1. Answer First
2. Details Second
3. Background
No suspense. No buildup. Just answers.
Structure
>
Style.
THE REALITY CHECK
60 seconds.
1. Give someone your doc
2. Set a timer for 60s
3. Ask them to summarize
Can't do it? Your structure needs work.
You'll want to add more. More words. More detail.
German has a word for this:
Verschlimmbesern
/fɛɐ̯ˈʃlɪmˌbɛsɐn/
To make something **worse**
by trying to improve it.
More words ≠ better docs.