IMPROVING YOUR SENTENCES

Sentences exist to express ideas.

The best sentences are sturdy and straightforward. The reader can understand them easily, without having to reread them. Sentences become difficult to read for two main reasons.

• The sentence is too long. If you use too many words to express an idea, the reader will get lost. Aim for an average sentence length of 15-20 words.
• The sentence is poorly constructed. Sentences are built up out of phrases: groups of words that express a single element of meaning. If the reader has to hold too many phrases in their mind at once, they will struggle. If phrases become knotted or over-complicated, reading will become more difficult.