How Long Should a Sentence Be?
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Have you ever wondered how long a sentence should be? Sentence length plays a crucial role in conveying a message effectively. Finding the right balance between conciseness and detail can make or break your content. As a proofreader or editor, you may need to support your clients in adjusting the length of their sentences.
In today’s blog post, we’ll explain:
- How to identify the ideal sentence length
- How to proofread long sentences
- How to make a sentence shorter
So, how long should a sentence be? Let’s explore this in more detail.
What Should Be Your Average Sentence Length?
Regarding the average sentence length, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer. However, it’s possible to overwrite and use more words than necessary. Likewise, you can have sentences that are too short and choppy. In either case, such sentences become hard to read. The ideal sentence length can vary depending on the context, audience, and the specific message you want to convey. Here are some general guidelines to consider:
1. Clarity and Readability
A good rule of thumb is to aim for sentences that are clear and easy to read. On average, sentences ranging from 15 to 20 words strike a balance between providing enough information and maintaining readability. This length is particularly effective for blog posts and other web content.
2. Vary Your Sentence Length
While shorter sentences are often preferred, mixing in longer ones for variation is essential. When used sparingly, long sentences, up to 30 words or more, can add depth and complexity to your writing. As a result, they’re great for conveying intricate ideas or storytelling.
3. Tailor to Your Audience
Consider the demographics of your target audience. Longer sentences are better for a more academic or technical audience, while a general audience might favor shorter ones.
4. Adapt to Your Content Type
The content of your writing will determine sentence lengths. Social media posts benefit from short, punchy sentences, while whitepapers may accommodate longer, in-depth ones.
How to Proofread Long Sentences
As proofreaders, we must make sentences clear and concise while preserving the author’s meaning. Proofreading long sentences can be challenging, especially if you’re a newbie proofreader. While longer sentences are sometimes necessary, they risk becoming convoluted or unclear. Here’s how to ensure lengthy sentences are well-structured and error-free:
1. Break It Down
Divide lengthy sentences into shorter, more manageable ones. Not only can this can help avoid reader fatigue, it can also enhance comprehension. Make sure each sentence conveys a single, clear point.
2. Punctuation Matters
Use punctuation effectively. Commas, semicolons, and dashes can help create natural pauses within long sentences, thus making them easier to read. But be mindful not to overuse these, as they can lead to cluttered sentences.
3. Check for Parallelism
Long sentences can become confusing if they lack parallel structure. Ensure that all parts of the sentence follow a consistent pattern.
4. Edit for Redundancy
Redundancy can creep in unnoticed in long sentences. Trim down any repetitiveness or unnecessary phrases to make the sentence more concise.
5. Simplify Vocabulary
An essay normally requires academic language and specific terminology. However, complex words might not be needed for a general audience. Consider replacing them with simpler alternatives. This shortens sentences and makes the content more accessible to a broader audience.
How to Make a Sentence Shorter
Sometimes, you’ll need to shorten a sentence without losing its essence. Here are some tips for making sentences more concise:
1. Identify Filler Words
Look out for words such as that, very, really, and just. They add little to sentences, so eliminate them to tighten writing.
2. Remove Redundancies
As previously mentioned, removing redundancies makes writing more concise. Pay attention to a word or phrase that conveys the same meaning as another. Choose one and then delete the other. For example:
I withdrew some money from the ATM machine. ✘
I withdrew some money from the ATM. ✔
In this example, we have removed machine from the sentence because it’s redundant. ATM stands for Automated Teller Machine. Why should we have machine twice in the same sentence?
3. Focus on Strong Verbs
Replace weak verbs with stronger, more specific ones, which convey the same idea in fewer words. For example:
Marcus’s passion for travel motivated him toward accomplishing the goal of becoming a travel vlogger. ✘
This example is a bit wordy and uses a weak verb. To rephrase it, let’s try this:
Marcus’s passion for travel inspired him to become a travel vlogger. ✔
4. Use Active Voice
Choose active voice over passive voice, especially if you’re working on an academic document for a client. Active voice sentences tend to be shorter and more direct, and as a result are often easier to understand. For example:
Joe was bitten by a spider (passive). ✘
A spider bit Joe (active). ✔
5. Focus on the Main Point
Ensure each sentence revolves around a single central idea. If you find a sentence with multiple concepts, then consider breaking them into distinct sentences.
6. Consider the Number of Clauses
Check the number of clauses in a sentence. Every sentence should have at least one independent clause. You should watch out for multiple independent clauses that aren’t connected or punctuated correctly in a single sentence, resulting in run-on sentences or comma splices. For instance:
I am really tired today, I was out late last night.
You can either replace the comma with a period or a semicolon. Here’s how the sentence would look in either case:
I am really tired today. I was out late last night.
I am really tired today; I was out late last night.
You can also combine clauses using coordinating conjunctions.
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