3 Simple Formatting Tricks That Make Your Writing 10x More Readable
Want people to actually read what you write?
The secret isn't fancy words or complex ideas. It's simple formatting that makes your text easy to scan and understand.
Formatting Is Your Best Writing Friend
Think of formatting like road signs for your readers. It guides them through your content and helps them find what they need fast.
Research shows that infographics are shared 300% more often than text-only articles, and well-structured content improves understanding by 40% (Source: Veda Digital)
Here's how to use the three most powerful formatting tools:
1. Bold Text Creates Impact
Bold text grabs attention instantly. Use it to highlight:
Key points you want readers to remember
Important warnings or tips
Main takeaways from each section
Don't overdo it. Too much bold text loses its power and makes your content look spammy.
2. Bullet Points Add Clarity
Bullet points break up long paragraphs and make information digestible in seconds. They work great for:
Lists of tips or steps
Features or benefits
Quick facts or stats
Your readers will thank you for making complex info simple to scan.
Nielsen Norman Group studies found that readers spent twice as much time on well-formatted pages and remembered 34% more content.
3. Line Breaks Give Your Text Room to Breathe
White space isn't empty space - it's reading space.
Short paragraphs are easier on the eyes.
They help readers process one idea at a time.
And they make your content look less scary on mobile screens (where 70% of people read).
Structure Equals Better Readability
When you combine these three tools, magic happens. Your writing becomes:
Easier to read (higher engagement)
More engaging (longer time on page)
Better for SEO (search engines love well-structured content)
Good structure helps busy readers find what they need without getting lost in walls of text.
Interestingly, most writers focus on the wrong metrics entirely when measuring content success, they track word count instead of clarity.
See the Difference? Here's a Quick Example
Before (hard to read):
"Formatting helps with readability and makes content better for users and search engines because it breaks up text and creates a visual hierarchy that guides readers through your content."
After (easy to scan):
"Formatting helps with readability. It makes content better for:
Users (easier to read)
Search engines (better SEO)
Visual hierarchy guides readers through your content."
The difference is clear, right? These kinds of simple micro-edits can dramatically boost how long readers stay engaged with your content from start to finish.
Quick Formatting Checklist
Before you hit publish, run through this 30-second formatting check:
Bold & Emphasis
Key points are bolded (but not overdone)
Important phrases stand out visually
No more than 2-3 bold phrases per paragraph
Lists & Structure
Complex info is broken into bullet points
Lists use consistent formatting (all bullets or all numbers)
Each list item is short and scannable
Spacing & Flow
Paragraphs are 1-3 sentences max
White space separates different ideas
Headers break up long sections
Mobile Check
Text looks good on phone screens
No paragraphs longer than 4 lines on mobile
Headers and bullets are clearly visible
SEO Basics
Headers use proper hierarchy (H2, H3)
Important keywords are naturally bolded
Structure helps readers find information fast
Print this checklist and keep it next to your computer. You'll be amazed how much it improves your writing clarity in just one week.
For LinkedIn-specific formatting tips, check out my article on common formatting mistakes that kill engagement.
Start Writing Better Today
Want to make your writing more readable and engaging?
Even experienced writers often miss obvious formatting issues in their own work. Research shows we're blind to 70% of errors in our own writing because our brains fill in the gaps.
Get your free writing analysis toolkit - including readability scores, word count tracking, and SEO optimization tips. Check out WordCount AI to analyze your text instantly and discover exactly how readable your content really is.
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—Hakan | Founder, WordCountAi.com
P.S. If you try my tool, I'd love to hear how it helped — just reply to this post or comment below for a chance to get featured in an upcoming edition. You can read more about why I built this tool and how it helps writers overcome self-doubt and finish more drafts.