Curated Resource ( ? )
12/06/2020 from
www.wyliecomm.com/2020/03/how-long-should-a-sentence-be
Clear (web) writing - How long should a sentence be?
Do
web writing
,
digital communication
,
clear writing
,
readability
,
comprehension
,
long sentences
,
sentence length
Curated:
my notes ( ? )
With average sentences of 8 words or less, readers understood 100% of the story. (Downside: Copy might sound as if it had been ripped from a Dick and Jane book.)
At 14 words, they understood 90% of the information.
At 43 words, they understood less than 10%.
Write short sentences like the Times.
Times sentences average 15 words, ...]
“Times readers are sophisticated and don’t expect ‘Run, Spot, run’ syntax,” writes Philip B. Corbett, who’s in charge of revising the newsroom’s style manual. “But 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.”
Amen.
Read the Full Post
The above notes were curated from the full post www.wyliecomm.com/2020/03/how-long-should-a-sentence-be.Related reading
More Stuff I Do
More Stuff tagged web writing , digital communication , clear writing , readability , comprehension , long sentences , sentence length
See also: Writing