A preview is part of the writing process.
The last edit often happens when you stop looking at the source and start reading the page.
An article can feel finished in an editor and different on a page. A heading wraps in an awkward place. A paragraph is longer than it seemed. A link lacks enough context.
Previewing is a chance to read the result as a visitor would.
Change the frame
Open the page at a narrow width. Read the headline and opening paragraph without the rest of your editing tools around them. Follow each link that you expect a reader to use.
Pay attention to the basics:
- Can you tell what the article is about before scrolling?
- Are paragraphs comfortable to read on a phone?
- Do headings create a useful outline?
- Is the author visible, and is the date unambiguous?
- Can you find another relevant article afterward?
Review the complete path
Start at the homepage instead of opening the article directly. Find the story, read it, and return to the archive. The article belongs to that larger experience.
A preview does not replace a careful edit, but it changes what you can notice. Treat that final read as part of publishing, rather than a technical formality.