A knowledge tree can be read from beginning to end, just like conventional writing, but, unlike conventional writing, is much easier to "skim".

Think of knowledge trees as eliminating the need for footnotes. Think of the branches growing upward from a particular branch as a footnote for that branch. In a knowledge tree, there can be many levels of such detail, and a reader is not expected to read the entire knowledge tree any more than a reader is expected to read all footnotes in a conventional writing. Since many levels are possible, the wo'th level above the root branch serves as an abstract or executive summary. The next level can serve as a more detailed summary, still omitting much of the detail that would be presented mainline in a conventional writing. The level above that can the provide all of the detail that is customarily presented mainline. And finally, levels above that can provide the kinds of detail that are conventionally put into footnotes.