Snip your sentences: How long is too long?
What’s the average length of a sentence that readers can easily read and understand?
Joseph M. Williams, the author of Style: Toward Clarity and Grace, wrote:
“The ability to write clear, crisp sentences that never go beyond twenty words is a considerable achievement.”
Jack Hart, editor at large of The Oregonian and author of A Writer’s Coach, counsels:
“Writers who demand attention seldom average more than 17 words a sentence.”
Jack Cappon, longtime Associated Press editor and writing ace, said:
“There are no absolute rules of good writing — generalizations are instantly riddled with exceptions — but the principle of the 16-word average sentence comes closest. No other single step you can take will show such quick results in clarity and vigor.”
Tom Silvestri, president of Media General Community Newspapers, suggests:
“Imagine a clock that starts ticking after the 10th word. With each additional word, the ticking gets louder. After the 20th word, the ticking is VERY loud. After the 40th, it’s stadium-crowd loud. After 45, deafening.”
When does your sentence-length alarm go off? If you want to write copy that readers find easy to read and understand, keep sentences short.
Cut Through the Clutter resources
Want to master the art of making all your copy clearer and more concise?
- Invite Ann’s team in to handle a special writing or editing project.
- Bring Ann to your organization for a “Cut Through the Clutter” workshop.
- Work with Ann to Cut Through the Clutter in your own copy in one-on-one writing coaching.
- Get dozens of “Cut Through the Clutter” tipsheets on RevUpReadership.com.
- Find Ann’s out about Ann’s next “Cut Through the Clutter” teleseminar.
- Read Ann’s “Cut Through the Clutter” manual.
- Get free writing tips every month when you subscribe to our e-zine.
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Source: Ann Wylie, Cut Through the Clutter, Wylie Communications Inc., 2005
About Ann Wylie
Ann Wylie is president of Wylie Communications Inc., a training, writing and consulting firm. She works with communicators who want to reach more readers and with organizations that want to get the word out. Wylie is the author of RevUpReadership.com, a toolbox for writers, and Wylie’s Writing Tips, a free e-zine. She has earned more than 60 awards, including two IABC Gold Quills, for her work.
Copyright © 2010 Ann Wylie. All rights reserved.
