{"id":30194,"date":"2022-07-25T04:44:09","date_gmt":"2022-07-25T08:44:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/?p=30194"},"modified":"2024-01-01T08:08:42","modified_gmt":"2024-01-01T12:08:42","slug":"how-long-should-a-sentence-be","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/2022\/07\/how-long-should-a-sentence-be\/","title":{"rendered":"How long should a sentence be?"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2>Short sentences are easier to understand than long sentences<\/h2>\n<p>Add a word to your sentence, and you\u2019ll reduce comprehension. Add another once, reduce it even further. Add another one and reduce it even more.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_30196\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-30196\" style=\"width: 600px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"30196\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/2022\/07\/how-long-should-a-sentence-be\/how-long-should-a-sentence-be-2\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/how-long-should-a-sentence-be.png\" data-orig-size=\"450,300\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"how-long-should-a-sentence-be\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;Add a word, reduce comprehension: Shorter sentences are easier to understand than long, complex sentences. But how short? &lt;a href=&quot;https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/es\/image-photo\/one-caucasian-person-hand-holding-black-267531827&quot; rel=&quot;noopener&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot;&gt;&lt;em&gt;Image by Nelosa&lt;\/em&gt;&lt;\/a&gt;&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/how-long-should-a-sentence-be-300x200.png\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/how-long-should-a-sentence-be.png\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/how-long-should-a-sentence-be.png\" alt=\"How long should a sentence be?\" title=\"How long should a sentence be?\" width=\"450\" height=\"300\" class=\"size-full wp-image-30196 lazyload\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/how-long-should-a-sentence-be.png 450w, https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/how-long-should-a-sentence-be-300x200.png 300w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 450px) 100vw, 450px\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 450px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 450\/300;\" \/><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"30196\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/2022\/07\/how-long-should-a-sentence-be\/how-long-should-a-sentence-be-2\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/how-long-should-a-sentence-be.png\" data-orig-size=\"450,300\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"how-long-should-a-sentence-be\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;Add a word, reduce comprehension: Shorter sentences are easier to understand than long, complex sentences. But how short? &lt;a href=&quot;https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/es\/image-photo\/one-caucasian-person-hand-holding-black-267531827&quot; rel=&quot;noopener&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot;&gt;&lt;em&gt;Image by Nelosa&lt;\/em&gt;&lt;\/a&gt;&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/how-long-should-a-sentence-be-300x200.png\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/how-long-should-a-sentence-be.png\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/how-long-should-a-sentence-be.png\" alt=\"How long should a sentence be?\" title=\"How long should a sentence be?\" width=\"450\" height=\"300\" class=\"size-full wp-image-30196\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/how-long-should-a-sentence-be.png 450w, https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/how-long-should-a-sentence-be-300x200.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 450px) 100vw, 450px\" \/><\/noscript><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-30196\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Add a word, reduce comprehension: Shorter sentences are easier to understand than long, complex sentences. But how short? <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/es\/image-photo\/one-caucasian-person-hand-holding-black-267531827\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><em>Image by Nelosa<\/em><\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>There\u2019s almost a one-to-one correlation between sentence length and understanding, according to research by the American Press Institute. The research, based on studies of 410 newspapers, correlated the average number of words in a sentence with reader comprehension.<\/p>\n<p>The study found that:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>With average sentences of <strong>8 words or less<\/strong>, readers understood 100% of the story. (Downside: Copy might sound as if it had been ripped from a Dick and Jane book.)<\/li>\n<li><strong>At 14 words<\/strong>, they understood 90% of the information.<\/li>\n<li><strong>At 43 words<\/strong>, they understood less than 10%.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>And that 107-word sentence your subject-matter expert made you write? It actually subtracts from the sum of human knowledge. After reading that sentence, your readers not only don\u2019t know what they\u2019ve read, they also forget where they parked the car.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_30202\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-30202\" style=\"width: 600px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"30202\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/2022\/07\/how-long-should-a-sentence-be\/can-you-read-me-now\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/can-you-read-me-now.png\" data-orig-size=\"600,196\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"can-you-read-me-now\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Can you read me now?&lt;\/strong&gt; At 46 words, this sentence would generate less than 10% comprehension, according to the American Press Institute.&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/can-you-read-me-now-300x98.png\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/can-you-read-me-now.png\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/can-you-read-me-now.png\" alt=\"Can you read me now?\" width=\"600\" height=\"196\" class=\"size-full wp-image-30202 lazyload\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/can-you-read-me-now.png 600w, https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/can-you-read-me-now-300x98.png 300w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 600px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 600\/196;\" \/><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"30202\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/2022\/07\/how-long-should-a-sentence-be\/can-you-read-me-now\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/can-you-read-me-now.png\" data-orig-size=\"600,196\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"can-you-read-me-now\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Can you read me now?&lt;\/strong&gt; At 46 words, this sentence would generate less than 10% comprehension, according to the American Press Institute.&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/can-you-read-me-now-300x98.png\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/can-you-read-me-now.png\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/can-you-read-me-now.png\" alt=\"Can you read me now?\" width=\"600\" height=\"196\" class=\"size-full wp-image-30202\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/can-you-read-me-now.png 600w, https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/can-you-read-me-now-300x98.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/noscript><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-30202\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><strong>Can you read me now?<\/strong> At 46 words, this sentence would generate less than 10% comprehension, according to the American Press Institute.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>That\u2019s a net loss of knowledge \u2014 not exactly our goal as communicators.<\/p>\n<p>So how short should sentences be?<\/p>\n<h3>Write short sentences like the <em>Times<\/em>.<\/h3>\n<p>Take a tip from the pros at <em>The New York Times<\/em>, and keep sentences short.<\/p>\n<p><em>Times<\/em> sentences average 15 words, according to our analysis of all of the stories in a recent edition of the newspaper. (We skipped the sports pages to avoid skewing the results.)<\/p>\n<p>So aim for an average sentence length of about 15 words, like these from the <em>Times<\/em>:<\/p>\n<h5 clas=\"standalone\">Some companies that do approve business-class travel do so only in one direction, however.<\/h5>\n<h5 clas=\"standalone\">Its broadband package is also the home to the sports broadcaster ESPN in Britain.<\/h5>\n<h5 clas=\"standalone\">They added that the plaintiffs\u2019 side lacked actual people to say they were harmed.<\/h5>\n<p>Build drama, create rhythm and make points powerfully by sprinkling in some super-short sentences like these, from the Times, which range from 5 to 1 word:<\/p>\n<h5 clas=\"standalone\">Justice Sonia Sotomayor dissented.<\/h5>\n<h5 clas=\"standalone\">He was 84.<\/h5>\n<h5 clas=\"standalone\">No.<\/h5>\n<p>\u201cTimes readers are sophisticated and don\u2019t expect \u2018Run, Spot, run\u2019 syntax,\u201d writes Philip B. Corbett, who\u2019s in charge of revising the newsroom\u2019s style manual. \u201cBut news is read in a hurry, and we should strive for clear, sharp prose that aids rapid comprehension. Long, complex sentences slow readers down and can lead our syntax astray.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Amen.<\/p>\n<h3>How short should a sentence be?<\/h3>\n<p>Ask the experts:<\/p>\n<h5>A \u201c53-word sentence feels like my junk drawer \u2014 too much information crammed into too small a space.\u201d<\/h5>\n<h6>\u2014 Daphne Gray-Grant, publication coach<\/h6>\n<h5>\u00a0\u201cFor readable writing that doesn\u2019t tax your readers, vary your sentence length, seek an average in the low 20s, and cut any sentence of 45 words or more.\u201d<\/h5>\n<h6>\u2014 Wayne Schiess, senior lecturer at The David J. Beck Center for Legal Research, Writing, and Appellate Advocacy<\/h6>\n<h5>\u00a0\u201cThe 25-word rule isn\u2019t bad as long as you don\u2019t follow it. Don\u2019t count words and stick religiously to the 25-word limit. A long row of sentences all 25 words long can be as dull as a collection of short sentences can be, unless you\u2019re writing for 8-year-olds.\u201d<\/h5>\n<h6>\u2014 Authors of <em>Writing Tips for Word Lovers<\/em><\/h6>\n<h5>\u00a0\u201cThe ability to write clear, crisp sentences that never go beyond 20 words is a considerable achievement.\u201d<\/h5>\n<h6>\u2014 Joseph M. Williams, the author of <em>Style: Toward Clarity and Grace<\/em><\/h6>\n<h5>\u00a0\u201cWriters who demand attention seldom average more than 17 words a sentence.\u201d<\/h5>\n<h6>\u2014 Jack Hart, author of <em>A Writer\u2019s Coach<\/em><\/h6>\n<h5>\u00a0\u201cMaximum sentence length: seventeen words. Minimum: one.<\/h5>\n<h5>\u201cNo semicolons. Semicolons indicate relationships that only idiots need defined by punctuation. Besides, they are ugly.<\/h5>\n<h5>\u201cMake sure each sentence is at least four words longer or shorter than the one before it.\u201d<\/h5>\n<h6>\u2014 Poet Richard Hugo<\/h6>\n<h5>\u201cThere are no absolute rules of good writing \u2014 generalizations are instantly riddled with exceptions \u2014 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.\u201d<\/h5>\n<h6>\u2014 Jack Cappon, longtime Associated Press editor<\/h6>\n<h5>\u00a0\u201cThis sentence has five words. Here are five more words. Five-word sentences are fine. But several together become monotonous.<\/h5>\n<h5>\u201cListen to what is happening. The writing is getting boring. The sound of it drones. It\u2019s like a stuck record. The ear demands some variety.<\/h5>\n<h5>\u201cNow listen. I vary the sentence length, and I create music. Music. The writing sings. It has a pleasant rhythm, a lilt, a harmony.\u201d<\/h5>\n<h6>\u2014 Gary Provost, author of <em>100 Ways to Improve Your Writing<\/em><\/h6>\n<h5>\u00a0\u201cImagine a clock that starts ticking after the 10th word. With each additional word, the ticking gets louder.<\/h5>\n<h5>\u201cAfter the 20th word, the ticking is VERY loud. After the 40th, it\u2019s stadium-crowd loud. After 45, deafening.\u201d<\/h5>\n<h6>\u2014 Tom Silvestri, president of Media General Community Newspapers<\/h6>\n<h3>What\u2019s your average sentence length? What sentence length do you aim for?<\/h3>\n<div id='MMC-Clear' class='widgets_on_page wop_tiny1  wop_small1  wop_medium1  wop_large1  wop_wide1'>\n\t\t\t<ul><li id=\"custom_html-81\" class=\"widget_text widget widget_custom_html\"><div class=\"textwidget custom-html-widget\"><a title=\"Clear-writing workshop, a mini master class\" href=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/corporate-communications-training\/mini-master-classes-home\/clear-writing-course\/\" target=\"\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/clear-writing-training-mmc.png\" alt=\"Clear-writing workshop, a mini master class\" title=\"Clear-writing workshop, a mini master class\" width=\"auto\" height=\"auto\" border=\"0\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 250px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 250\/250;float:left; text-align:left; margin: 0 auto; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 2px; margin-bottom: 10px; font-size: 18x; line-height: 22px; padding: 0px; color: #FFFFFF; max-width:100%; max-height:100%;\" class=\"img-max lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\"><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/clear-writing-training-mmc.png\" alt=\"Clear-writing workshop, a mini master class\" title=\"Clear-writing workshop, a mini master class\" width=\"auto\" height=\"auto\" border=\"0\" style=\"float:left; text-align:left; margin: 0 auto; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 2px; margin-bottom: 10px; font-size: 18x; line-height: 22px; padding: 0px; color: #FFFFFF; max-width:100%; max-height:100%;\" class=\"img-max\"><\/noscript><\/a><h3>Reach more readers with tight writing<\/h3>\r\n\t\r\n<p>Would your piece be twice as good if it were half as long? Yes, say readability experts.<\/p>\r\n\t\r\n<p>So how long should your message be? Your paragraphs? Your sentences? Your words? What reading ease level should you hit?<\/p>\r\n\t\r\n<p>Learn how to write clearer, more concise messages at our <a title=\"Clear-writing workshop, a mini master class\" href=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/corporate-communications-training\/mini-master-classes-home\/clear-writing-course\/\" target=\"\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>clear-writing course<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<div class=\"btn btn--depth\" style=\"text-align: center;  margin: 10px 0 20px; width:100%;\"><a id=\"btnTT\" style=\"\" title=\"BOOK NOW\" href=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/corporate-communications-training\/mini-master-classes-home\/clear-writing-course\/\" target=\"\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-width=\"91\">BOOK NOW<\/a>\r\n<!-- [if mso]>\r\n<p style=\"line-height:0;margin:0;\"><v:roundrect xmlns:v=\"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml\" href=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/corporate-communications-training\/mini-master-classes-home\/clear-writing-course\/\" style=\"width:153px\" arcsize=\"8%\" strokecolor=\"#D96237\" filled=\"t\"><v:fill type=\"gradient\" angle=\"180\" color=\"#f16522\" color2=\"#f16522\"><\/v:fill><v:textbox style=\"mso-fit-shape-to-text:t\" inset=\"0px,11px,0px,11px\"><center style=\"font-size:16px;line-height:24px;color:#FFFFFF;font-family:sans-serif;font-weight:bold;mso-line-height-rule:exactly;mso-text-raise:4px\">BOOK NOW<\/center><\/v:textbox><\/v:roundrect><\/p>\r\n<![endif]--><\/div>\r\n<\/div><\/li><\/ul><\/div><!-- widgets_on_page -->\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Short sentences are easier to understand than long sentences<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":30196,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[272],"tags":[496,336],"class_list":{"0":"post-30194","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-sentence-length","8":"tag-sententes","9":"tag-short-sentence","10":"entry"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v23.4 (Yoast SEO v23.6) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>How long should a sentence be?<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Add a word, reduce comprehension: Shorter sentences are easier to understand than long, complex sentences. 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