Users read faster when line lengths are long, although they tend to prefer shorter line lengths. When designing, first determine if performance or preference is important. If user performance is critical, use longer line lengths to increase reading speed. However, if user preference is critical, use shorter line lengths. Enhance scanning by providing clear links, headings, short phrases and sentences, and short paragraphs.
Users tend to scan, stopping only when they find something interesting.
Users struggle to find alternatives to reading. A Designer's Guide, North Andover, MA User Interface Engineering. If response time is reasonably fast, and the page is used primarily for navigation, use paging rather than scrolling. This is particularly true for home pages and menu pages. Although each scrolling event takes little time, overall users can spend a considerable amount of time scrolling.