Paste any text to bold the first part of every word, the “fixation point” style that many readers find easier to skim and focus on. Tune how much of each word is bold and how often, preview it live, then copy it as rich text, HTML or Markdown.
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Preview
“Bionic Reading” is a trademark of its owners. This independent tool simply bolds the start of words and is not affiliated with them.
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How to use the Focus Reading Converter
Paste your text into the box, or try the example. The preview updates as you type.
Set the fixation to choose how much of each word is bold; around 40–50% suits most readers.
Set the saccade to bold every word or only every 2nd to 5th word for a lighter look.
Adjust the look: bold weight, fading of the rest of the word, font and size.
Copy or download: rich text for documents and email, HTML for websites, Markdown for notes, or an HTML file to read offline.
How the bold part of each word is chosen
For every word the converter multiplies the number of letters by the fixation percentage and rounds to the nearest whole letter: bold letters = round(word length × fixation). At least one letter is always bold, and in words longer than three letters at least one letter stays regular so the word never turns fully bold. Apostrophes stay inside the word (don't is one word), and accents stay attached to their letter.
Word (letters)
30% fixation
50% fixation
70% fixation
a (1)
a
a
a
the (3)
the
the
the
read (4)
read
read
read
focus (5)
focus
focus
focus
reading (7)
reading
reading
reading
attention (9)
attention
attention
attention
The saccade setting skips words between highlights: with saccade 2 the 1st, 3rd, 5th… words get a bold start, with saccade 3 every third word does. Higher values give a lighter page that some readers prefer for long texts.
Tips for comfortable focus reading
Start around 40–50% fixation and every word. If the page feels heavy, lower the fixation or raise the saccade.
Fade the rest of the word slightly to increase contrast between the anchor and the remainder without making the bold heavier.
Use a larger size and wider spacing for long reading sessions; 18–20 px with wide line spacing is easy on the eyes.
Keep the original: bolded text is for reading, not editing. Edit your source, then convert again.
Judge by feel: research has not shown a consistent speed gain for everyone, so keep using it only if it helps you.
Frequently asked questions
What is bionic reading?
Bionic-style reading highlights the first letters of each word in bold so your eyes have a fixed point to land on and your brain fills in the rest. “Bionic Reading” is a trademark of its creators; this free tool produces the same general bold-prefix style with its own settings.
Does bionic reading make you read faster?
Some people say it helps them stay focused, especially when skimming, but controlled studies so far have not found a reliable speed or comprehension gain on average. Try it on your own texts and keep the settings that feel comfortable.
What do fixation and saccade mean?
A fixation is the moment your eyes rest on a word; here it sets how much of each word is bold. A saccade is the quick jump between fixations; here it sets how often a word is bolded, from every word (1) to every fifth word (5).
How do I paste the result into Word or Google Docs?
Click “Copy rich text” and paste with Ctrl+V (Cmd+V on a Mac). The bold formatting comes along. If your app pastes plain text only, use “Download HTML” and open the file in your browser or word processor instead.
Can I use it with ADHD or dyslexia?
Some readers with ADHD or dyslexia like the bold anchors, others find them distracting. It is a reading preference rather than a treatment, so experiment with lighter settings such as 30% fixation and saccade 2.
Is my text uploaded anywhere?
No. The conversion runs entirely in your browser and your text is only stored on your own device so the page remembers it next time.
Are all the tools on FreeToolCabin tested for quality and accuracy?
Yes! Every tool on our site undergoes automated Q/A testing in real browser environments to ensure high precision, correct output, and zero errors. If you happen to spot a bug or have a suggestion, please contact us at [email protected] and our team will review it right away.