general:communication:Long Sentences

Summary

I write long sentences.

Notes

  • Remove conceptual Redunencies.
    • “It’s important to plan ahead if you want to avoid unexpected surprises and unintentional mistakes.”
    • “It’s important to plan if you want to avoid surprises and mistakes.”
  • Remove contextual Padding.
    • “In my opinion, …“
    • ”…“
  • Remove commas.
  • Break up long sentences (Don't have to chain with ”, which” or “, and, if”)
    • “Long sentences are difficult to follow, which may even mean that the reader forgets how a sentence started by the time they get to the end, and, if you use too many long sentences, they will struggle to comprehend what you’re saying!”
    • “Long sentences are difficult to follow. The reader may even forget how a sentence started by the time they get to the end. Consequently, they will struggle to comprehend what you’re saying if you use too many long sentences!”
  • Don't start sentences with “Although”, “So”,“Because”, “Since”
  • Use the Active Voice (where the Sentence subject is what is initiates the action) versus the Passive Voice (where the Sentence subject is what is being acted on):
    • “he conclusions are supported by the experimental data”
    • “The experimental data supports the conclusions.”
  • Vary Sentence Length.
    • Inter-spear your longer sentences with short punchy sentences.
      * Reduce Word-phrases into words
    • “in order to”
    • “to”

Resources