Do you read books word-by-word or do you scan the book?

[moderntimes]

Reading every word, last night I finished another novel for my mystery review writing. I've been busy lately so I was only reading this bedtime, maybe 30 min to an hour before a zzz'd out. Took me about a week, maybe 8 days, and it's a long novel, perhaps 90k words.

It helps being a fast reader. Now comes the review, which I'll write before the NFL playoff games come on. Then I'm glued to the TV.

[dmhall78]

I read books word for word. I don't want to miss anything is the story. Usually takes me a few days to read a book.

[Zoe303]

I read word-by word. I never scan books. Scanning is for things I don't really want to read, but I just have to, and that's definitely not the case with books.

[MsMartha]

I tend to read word-by-word, and if I'm really enjoying a book, I tend to read it slowly. I do sometimes scan through sections that I'm not enjoying, and if I'm being a good girl I'll go back and reread those parts in case I've missed something important. I can read fast, but it's just not as enjoyable...

[Momlovesbooks]

I read word-by-word. I don't want to miss any details, even though I tend to be a fast reader. I will go back and read something again if I think I missed anything important.

[Bookaholic14]

I read every word. I feel like I'm missing out if I just scan through a book. My reading speed depends on what I'm reading. I find that I tend to read faster if the novel is at a climax and I can't wait to find out what happens next. When I'm reading for work, it's usually legal documents, so I tend to read those slower because things are often very wordy and complicated.

[SparklingOne]

I'm a word for word reader too, when reading for enjoyment. I tend to scan over most email and other websites, it's more efficient and the latter is usually for general info so I just need an overview. If you were to scan over a story, it would be the same as hitting fast forward while watching a movie, if a book is that big of a stinker why bother I figure.

[CrescentMoon]

There are certain books I scan because it's so exciting and I can't put it down that I just want to know what happens next. Sometimes I'll go back and read it word for word because I felt like I missed something and end up realizing that I didn't. However, I do feel uncomfortable moving forward because I feel like I would miss something important so in general I read word for word.

[moderntimes]

I suppose the phrase "scan" can be a bit misleading here. I think the poster intended "browsing" thru a passage casually.

I think I might do this occasionally, for maybe a pop article about some celeb in trouble with the law, but I generally either read something I want to, or not at all. So "scanning" isn't something I do a lot. If someone posts a link to an article on politics or whatever, I will quickly scan or browse the high points and then if it interests me, if it says something I don't already know, I'll read it completely.

I also guess that "word-by-word" implies a thorough reading. I'm a very fast reader with pretty high comprehension, and because I spent years working with high tech engineering documents, as both an editor and consultant, I've learned to read precisely but at the same time quickly. That would be word by word.

For a book or story or article I'm enjoying, however, yes, I do read every word, but fast, and then I'll find myself returning to a particular passage which is especially well written, savoring the words more slowly.

[Cecy_Says]

I go word-by-word. I have no idea how people read otherwise. Every word put to paper serves a purpose.

[readingnation]

I'm faster than average, but I still read word by word and understand the story.

[cogarae]

I am a word by word reader unless it's a textbook or something along those lines. If I don't read word by word my brain kicks in and is like um that doesn't make sense, go back

[Mike_Lang]

I read word for word, BUT sometimes a book will have unnecessary parts/details and I skim those(unless I am reviewing that book) so that I still understand everything. I am a fast reader, especially when I am enjoying a book and don't want to miss anything!

That's me, too. If I'm reading a book with a lot of excruciating detail or one where the plot slows to a crawl I will often skim through those parts.

[brandy29b]

For me, how I read depends on a number of factors. First, the content is a factor. If the content is academic, I tend to need to go slower and read more carefully for full comprehension. Also, if I find the content dry (academic or not), I tend to have to go slower, or reread parts as my attention may have wandered. Having to go slower, I need to read word-for-word for a full understanding. If the content is not academic (and also well-written and not confusing), and if I feel engaged in the story, I tend to read in chunks as I translate the book in my imagination (what things look like, or even a character's emotional experience). I would not call how I read skimming, but perhaps in between skimming and reading word-for-word. I have been told by others that I am a "fast" reader, but I really think I'm about average.

[Jojowrites4All]

Strictly word by word.