Linear and

Non-Linear
Texts
Things to learn!

01 02
What is Linear Text? What is Non-Linear
Text?

03 04
Differences between
Linear and Non-Linear Exercises
Texts
Linear Texts
Linear text refers to traditional text that needs to
be read from beginning to the end. Here, the
reader makes sense of the text according to
the grammatical and syntactic arrangement
of the words.

Moreover, this type of text has an order or

sequence; it’s typically the author of the text
who decides the order of the text, or its
reading path.
 A reading path is the path or the way the
reader’s take through a text. There are two
paths as linear and nonlinear texts
depending on this reading path. This
article explains these two reading paths,
providing examples to give a clear
understanding of the difference between
linear and nonlinear text.
Examples:

NOVELS

POEMS

LETTERS

TEXTBOOKS
 About Linear Texts

There is only reasig

path which is decided
by the author.
1

Typically includes
printed texts 2
It may take time to find the
information readers are
searching for.
3
 Generally, texts printed on paper
are considered as linear texts.
Novels, poems, short stories,
letters, educational texts, all those
texts we read from the beginning
to the end, are linear texts.
Non-Linear Texts
Nonlinear text is the opposite of
linear text. As its name suggests, it is
nonlinear and non-sequential. In
other words, the readers do not
have to go through the text in a
sequential manner in order to make
sense of the text. This type of text
has many reading paths since it’s
the readers who decide the sequence
of reading, not the author of the
text.
Examples for Non-Linear Texts
Tables
Pie Charts Flowcharts, Pictures

Character Maps
Diagrams and Sequence
Carts
More about Non-Linear Texts

There are many definitions of the term nonlinear

text. Most people consider texts with visuals or
graphs along with it as examples for nonlinear
texts. Some examples include flowcharts, charts,
and graphs (ex: pie chart, bar graphs), graphical
organizers such as knowledge maps and story
maps.
More about Non-Linear Texts

In fact, any text that is not read from beginning

to the end falls into the category of nonlinear
text. For example, consider an encyclopedia or a
telephone directory. We do not read them from
beginning to the end; we skim through them to
obtain the specific information we need.
 About Non-Linear Texts

There are multiple

reading paths. They are
determined by the 1
reader.

Typically include
digital texts. 2

Allows readers to find more

efficiently 3
Differences between Linear
and Non-Linear Texts
 LINEAR TEXTS NON-LINEAR TEXTS
Refers to traditional text that Refers to text that does not need
DEFINITION need to be read from beginning to be read from beginning to end.
to end.

READING PATH There is only one reading path There are multiple reading paths.
which is decided by the author. They are determined by the
reader.
CONTENT Typically include printed texts. Typically include digital texts.

It may take time to find the Allows reader to find more

EFFECIENCY information readers are efficiently.
searching for.
Novels, Poems, Letters, Flowcharts, Knowledge, Maps
EXAMPLES Textbooks, Newspapers and and Encyclopedia
Articles.
 The difference between linear and
nonlinear texts mainly depends on
their reading paths. Since linear texts
have a sequential order, they have
only one reading path. However,
nonlinear texts have multiple reading
paths since they are non-sequential.
Thank you!