One-Minute Communications Tips Archive
November 2007
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The Key to
Sentence Length
An average
sentence length of 16 words is considered ideal for most written matter. While
this number is a good one to shoot for, it's not always the best for all types
of audiences.
In scientific and technical literature, it's not unusual to find sentences that
run to 50 or 60 words. Why? Because sometimes you need a long sentence to
explain a complex thought — especially one that has a number of sub-parts.
Bullets can't always do the job. And breaking the sentence up with a period
breaks up the thought. Worse, doing so may appear condescending to readers.
Marketing copywriting, meanwhile, calls for really short sentences of about 12
words or fewer. They're punchier and more conversational.
Choosing sentence length boils down to your understanding the audience's needs
and expectations. A good general rule is: Write the shortest sentence possible
in every situation.
© Arun Sinha, Access Communications. Access Communications is a marketing
communications and technical writing firm based in Stamford, Connecticut, USA.
Sign up for Access Consulting's One-Minute Communication Tip at http://www.AccessConsultingInc.com.
Once a month, you'll receive an actionable idea or technique on an aspect of
business communications, distilled into about 150 words.
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