Most readers scan emails in an "F-pattern" or "Z-pattern". In the F-pattern, readers start at the top left, scan horizontally, drop down slightly, and repeat. The Z-pattern also starts at the top left, scans horizontally to the top right, then diagonally down to the bottom left, and finishes with another horizontal scan to the bottom right. These patterns highlight the importance of placing key elements like headlines, images, and CTAs in these hotspots.