Because long ones reduce comprehension
Here’s the problem with long sentences: Every time you add a word, you reduce comprehension. Add another one, reduce it even further.… Read the full article
Ann Wylie’s blog of writing tips
How to write a short sentence
6 ways to streamline sentences
If your sentences are too long, readers won’t understand them.
So how can you write shorter sentences? Here are six ways to streamline sentences:
1.
… Read the full articleHow to fix passive voice
Ask, who’s doing the verb?
How can you activate a passive sentence?
1. Identify the passive voice.
First, identify passive sentences.
Active voice
The active voice uses simple sentence structure:
Subject, verb, object.
… Read the full articleShort form vs long form for decision-making
People perform better when they’re not drowning in data
The more information you have, the better decisions you can make, right?
Wrong.
It turns out that doctors make better diagnoses when they have less information.… Read the full article
How to get the hyperbole out of your web page
Improve your fact-to-fluff ratio
Readers are busy. Fluff takes space. Space takes time. So let’s cut the fluff and get on with it.
To cut the fluff, aim for a fact-to-fluff ratio of at least 1:1.… Read the full article
Short-form digital content helps readers choose
Too many options paralyze people
Here’s a famous story among persuasion researchers and Malcolm Gladwell fans:
When a researcher offered shoppers 24 types of jam, many customers stopped by for a sample, but only 3% made a purchase.… Read the full article
Stop wasting web visitors’ time with puffery, hype
Web visitors ‘get visibly angry’ at verbose sites
Here’s an interesting dichotomy: Killing time is the killer app for mobile devices. But mobile users are in a hurry and “get visibly angry” at verbose sites that waste their time.… Read the full article
What lede (or lead) should you use for web content?
4 types of web leads to try — and 3 to avoid
Lede or lead?
You won’t find it in the Oxford English Dictionary. But the alternative spelling lede was supposedly created during the linotype era so as not to confuse lead with the strip of metal that was used to separate lines of type.… Read the full article
Reading paper vs. computer screen
Reading online hurts readers’ eyes, their bodies, their brains
I don’t know about you, but one of my goals in life is to never write anything that makes my readers throw up, resign or forget where they parked their car.… Read the full article
What are the problems with reading on mobile devices?
Mobile reading costs time, attention, understanding and action
You may have heard that social scientists recently added a new item on Maslow’s hierarchy of needs.
The classic model of what drives human nature looked like this back in the day:
- Self actualization: the feeling of doing what you were put on this planet to do
- Esteem: feeling good about yourself and what you do
- Social needs: having love, a tribe, companionship
- Safety and security: not being afraid of getting eaten by a tiger
- Physiological needs: food and shelter
Our modern world has revealed another, even more basic human need …
… Wi-Fi.… Read the full article