A paper-first reading field guide
Stop Over-Highlighting a Nonfiction Book
Finish the paragraph before marking, choose one job for the mark, and limit each page to one retained idea. If two lines compete, write a cue instead of highlighting both.
Highlighting everything preserves location but destroys priority. A delay and a page budget restore selection.
Step 1
Delay until the paragraph ends
A sentence can look central before the author qualifies it. Wait for the complete unit.
Step 2
Assign one job
Every retained mark should help you define, test, apply, or question something.
- define
- test
- apply
- question
Step 3
Use a one-mark page budget
If another line matters more, move the mark. If both matter for different reasons, keep one mark and add a brief cue.
- PAGE: ____
- JOB: ____
- CUE: ____________________
Step 4
Review the unmarked gaps
The space between marks helps later reading. Do not fill it simply because the page looks unfinished.