Pattern 53

Parallel reading chooses a useful arrangement

Compare translations without forcing a desktop layout onto a small screen.

Research-informed design proposal

Concrete takeaway

Choose left/right panes, top/bottom panes, or alternating edition blocks by the comparison task and available width.

Choose an approach

These are editorial decision conditions to validate. Some alternatives are successive states or can be combined; they are not always exclusive choices.

Alternative	Use when	Tradeoff or requirement
A · Mobile: top and bottom	A phone needs readable full-width panes	Stacked panes reduce each visible passage height
B · Mobile: left and right	Short comparison fits side-by-side on a phone	Line length may fail with large text
C · Large screen: side by side	A larger window supports sustained comparison	Resizing and extra panes need stable reading anchors

The problem

Two adjacent translations can become narrow columns on a phone. Vertically stacked panes can hide the corresponding verse and make the relationship unclear.

The pattern

Choose left/right panes, top/bottom panes, or alternating edition blocks by the comparison task and available width. On mobile, a top/bottom split preserves line length, while a left/right split can suit brief passages when text remains readable. Offer a single-edition view or switching between editions when neither split fits enlarged text. On larger screens, side-by-side panes can support sustained comparison; let users resize or close panes without losing the reference. Keep edition labels, reference scope and scroll controls visible. Orientation names describe pane arrangement, not the direction in which Scripture should scroll.

Compare the alternatives

Compare translations without forcing a desktop layout onto a small screen.

A · Mobile: top and bottom

Bible study · Example interface

Translation A

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Translation B

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Scroll link: off

Use one edition

Full-width panes share the available height; each retains its edition label.

B · Mobile: left and right

Bible study · Example interface

Translation A

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Translation B

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If columns become too narrow, switch arrangement.

Stack the panes

A compact comparison is optional; do not shrink the reading type.

C · Large screen: side by side

Bible study · Larger screen

Translation A

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¹⁰

Translation B

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¹⁰

Drag divider to resize panes

Add or remove an edition

Wider panes support continuous reading and a resizable divider.

Original wireframe proposals · No live controls · Grey rows represent schematic text, not loading states · Labelled placeholders are not Scripture quotations

Download this wireframe as SVG

Failure modes

Shrinking text to fit columns; assuming landscape means enough space; hiding edition identity; putting one pane behind the player or keyboard.

What to validate

Test portrait, landscape, a large screen, enlarged fonts, a long verse and poetry. Can users identify both editions, change arrangement and retain the target passage?

Evidence status

Research-informed design proposal. These visual alternatives have not been tested with users in this atlas. Source findings, documented behaviour and this proposed adaptation are different kinds of evidence.

Sources and adaptation

This card is an original design synthesis. The following sources inform its content distinctions, interaction approach or review requirements; they do not validate the whole pattern.

Scripture structure documentationRelevant structure and marker references reviewed · A format is not a complete model of app behaviour, annotations or formation.
Understanding ReflowOfficial guidance reviewed on 5 October 2026 · Semantic scroll restoration is an original design proposal, not a requirement stated by this criterion.

Common scenarios and flows

Compare editions across screen sizes — Inspect wording and context while retaining edition identity.

Examples in use

Attributed app evidence with dates and review limits. A screenshot illustrates an implementation; it does not establish that the proposal works for every audience.