What’s the point of sending emails if people can’t quickly find what matters?
Most readers don’t read emails. They scan them.
If your message feels hard to get through, they move on.
These three formatting fixes make your emails easier to read and easier to act on.
Here’s what we’ll cover:
- Alignment
- Scannability
- Line length
1. Alignment
There’s a tendency to center text to make an email look more “designed.”
It usually does the opposite.
Centered text is harder to read, especially on screens.
Quick fix:
Align all text to the left.
Why this matters:
Left-aligned text matches how people naturally read, so they spend less effort just getting through your message.
2. Scannability
Bold text is meant to guide attention.
When everything is bold, nothing stands out.
Now the reader has to slow down and figure out what’s important.
Quick fix:
Only bold key words or short phrases you want people to notice while scanning.
Why this matters:
Good scanning lets readers find value fast, which increases the chance they keep reading instead of bailing.
3. Line Length
Long lines make email feel heavier than it is.
They also tire readers out faster.
Even interested readers quit sooner when lines run too long.
Quick fix:
Add a hard return every 12 to 14 words.
Why this matters:
Shorter lines feel easier to read and help people stay engaged all the way through.
The takeaway
- Left-align your text
- Use bold with intention
- Keep lines short
Make your emails easier to read and your message has a better chance of landing.
So, here’s your action item:
Before you send your next email, do one pass just for formatting.
Not copy.
Not subject lines.
Formatting.
Small changes. Big difference.