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:
Sentence length
How to write simple sentences
Think subject-verb-object for most of your sentences
The best way to make your sentences tighter and easier to understand is to simplify them. That is, write mostly simple sentences.… Read the full article
How long should a sentence be?
Short sentences are easier to understand than long sentences
Add a word to your sentence, and you’ll reduce comprehension. Add another once, reduce it even further.… Read the full article
How to vary your sentences
Build drama, create rhythm and more
Short sentences are best. But make every sentence simple and short, and your copy will read like “See Dick run” primers.… Read the full article
Why use short sentences in writing?
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
Identify the passive voice
It’s when the subject is acted upon
What is the passive voice?
“It’s Yoda talk,” says one of my clients.
Well … not exactly. Here are three ways to activate the passive voice:
1.
… Read the full articleSearch and destroy conjunctions
And, Or and So can increase sentence length
Sentences too long? Use Microsoft Word’s “find” function to search for conjunctions. They include:
- And
- Or
- Also
- But
- So
- Then
- Plus
When one of my writing coachees tried this trick, she found 23 “and’s” in a 500-word article.… Read the full article