To write awesome sentences, use concrete details, keep your sentences short, paint pictures your readers can see, do not be afraid to start with and or but, keep your reader in mind, and practice. This article explains each of these 6 tips.
You don't have to be a professional writer to create sentences that impress your readers. But if you want your writing to be great, and better than average, there are a few things to keep in mind.
Good sentences make your content stand out. They also keep your readers engaged, to the point where they do not want to stop reading. If readers get bored right away, you lose them quickly. Whether you want to persuade, inform, or help, your sentences have to pack a punch, from the first line of the text to the last. Whatever you write about, it all begins and ends with a sentence.
1. Use facts and concrete details
One of the best ways to engage your readers right away is to give them facts and details. They keep readers interested and informed at the same time. Compare the summer is always hot with the summer heat was so intense that even the birds sought refuge from the sun. In every sentence you write, choose details that are concrete and specific. The five Ws help you find them: who, what, when, where, and why.
For more ideas, read 11 great tips for improving your writing.
2. Keep it short
Many writers make the mistake of writing sentences that are too long. They go on and on, with no end in sight. In most cases, shorter is better. A short sentence makes it easier for your readers to follow you, while a long one can force them to read it twice to understand the message. Simple gets to the point. Keep most of your sentences short, and save the long ones for the places that really need them.
3. Create pictures for your readers
To engage your readers, let them use their imagination. Create pictures in their minds with concrete nouns and strong verbs, which paint an image of what you are trying to say. Compare the food smelled great with the aroma coming from the kitchen made us salivate with anticipation. It is a good idea to appeal to at least one or two of the five senses: sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch.
4. Start with but or and
Contrary to what your English teacher may have taught you, it is fine to start a sentence with But or And. It is grammatically correct, and it is a good way to hold your reader's attention. You do not need a comma after a But at the start of a sentence, either. Used well, But and And can make your sentences stand out.
5. Keep your mind on the reader
Too often, writers lose track of whom they are writing for. In the end, what you write is for your reader. Think of your text as part of a conversation with them. Don't make it sound like a sales pitch. Instead, make readers feel that they are part of the story or the message. Engage them, and be concise.
Also read these 6 awesome tips for effective writing.
6. Keep practicing
Writing is a skill that improves with practice, which means that writing great content takes work. The more you write, the better you get, and the mistakes you made in one text become easier to catch in the next. A spell checker such as the Spell Checker can point out mistakes you did not see yourself. Ask others for feedback, too: it is one of the best ways to improve your writing.