Sentence Variety
PROGRAM: “IN A WORD”
EPISODE: SENTENCE VARIETY
[5 TO 10 SEC OF MUSIC]
[FADE MUSIC]
I’m Candace Schaefer with “In a Word,” your weekly communication tip.
You’ve probably heard the phrase, “Variety is the spice of life,” but have you thought about how that applies to the sentences you write? Short sentences pack a punch. Longer, more expansive sentences, loaded with information and detail are great for explaining complicated ideas or showing relationships between ideas.
So how do writers decide when to use long sentences, when to use short ones, and when to throw in a change-up? Some famous writers can be identified specifically by their use of sentence length and structure: Ernest Hemingway is well-known for his short declarative sentences, as in this example from one of his short stories: “Manuel drank his brandy. He felt sleepy himself. It was too hot to go out into the town. Besides there was nothing to do.” In that passage, the short sentences help convey the character’s boredom.
In contrast, William Faulkner is known for his use of long, complex sentences. Some of them go on for pages. But what about those of us who aren’t famous novelists? How can we vary our sentence length to better communicate our ideas?
In academic and business writing, the burden of making connections between ideas is on the writer, not the reader. Sometimes, however, making connections for the reader can result in long, winding, unwieldy sentences that bore and confuse. So how do writers throw in a change-up to make sure their ideas don’t get lost in all those words?
Short sentences are effective as attention getters, so consider placing a short sentence at the beginning of a section or paragraph to announce the subject. For example, Robert Provine’s essay “Yawning,” which appeared in the American Scientist begins with the 3-word sentence, “Imagine a yawn.” Now Provine’s readers are prepared to read the longer, more complex sentences explaining the science behind yawning without, well, yawning.
Another great place to insert a short simple sentence is when you want to transition to a new idea or provide some type of change in direction for your reader. For example, Provine discusses common thought about facial expressions that prompt yawning, and as a transition, he says: “Here the plot thickened.” He goes on to explain that research contradicts common thought on facial expressions and yawning. Are you yawning yet?
So the next time you’re writing a memo, a report, or even a story or a poem, remember that varying your sentence length can help focus the reader’s attention on your most important points. Spice it up!
This has been “In a Word,” a program made possible by the Texas A&M University Writing Center and a production of KAMU FM on the campus of Texas A&M University in College Station. For more writing and speaking tips, visit our website at writingcenter.tamu.edu. I’m Candace Schaefer, helping you make every word count.
[5 TO 10 SEC OF MUSIC]
EPISODE: SENTENCE VARIETY
[5 TO 10 SEC OF MUSIC]
[FADE MUSIC]
I’m Candace Schaefer with “In a Word,” your weekly communication tip.
You’ve probably heard the phrase, “Variety is the spice of life,” but have you thought about how that applies to the sentences you write? Short sentences pack a punch. Longer, more expansive sentences, loaded with information and detail are great for explaining complicated ideas or showing relationships between ideas.
So how do writers decide when to use long sentences, when to use short ones, and when to throw in a change-up? Some famous writers can be identified specifically by their use of sentence length and structure: Ernest Hemingway is well-known for his short declarative sentences, as in this example from one of his short stories: “Manuel drank his brandy. He felt sleepy himself. It was too hot to go out into the town. Besides there was nothing to do.” In that passage, the short sentences help convey the character’s boredom.
In contrast, William Faulkner is known for his use of long, complex sentences. Some of them go on for pages. But what about those of us who aren’t famous novelists? How can we vary our sentence length to better communicate our ideas?
In academic and business writing, the burden of making connections between ideas is on the writer, not the reader. Sometimes, however, making connections for the reader can result in long, winding, unwieldy sentences that bore and confuse. So how do writers throw in a change-up to make sure their ideas don’t get lost in all those words?
Short sentences are effective as attention getters, so consider placing a short sentence at the beginning of a section or paragraph to announce the subject. For example, Robert Provine’s essay “Yawning,” which appeared in the American Scientist begins with the 3-word sentence, “Imagine a yawn.” Now Provine’s readers are prepared to read the longer, more complex sentences explaining the science behind yawning without, well, yawning.
Another great place to insert a short simple sentence is when you want to transition to a new idea or provide some type of change in direction for your reader. For example, Provine discusses common thought about facial expressions that prompt yawning, and as a transition, he says: “Here the plot thickened.” He goes on to explain that research contradicts common thought on facial expressions and yawning. Are you yawning yet?
So the next time you’re writing a memo, a report, or even a story or a poem, remember that varying your sentence length can help focus the reader’s attention on your most important points. Spice it up!
This has been “In a Word,” a program made possible by the Texas A&M University Writing Center and a production of KAMU FM on the campus of Texas A&M University in College Station. For more writing and speaking tips, visit our website at writingcenter.tamu.edu. I’m Candace Schaefer, helping you make every word count.
[5 TO 10 SEC OF MUSIC]