How to Say More With Fewer Words

Better communicate your article by saying less

Jon Hawkins
The Writing Cooperative

--

Photo by Freddy Castro on Unsplash

Non-fiction writers carry a purpose and agenda. They will make you aware of their experiences, and their interpretation of them. They want to persuade you of a particular viewpoint, or show you how to live your life.

But in the world of 60 second Tik Tok videos and Twitter’s 280 character limit, consumers are accustomed to getting their information as quickly and concisely as possible. A study by Microsoft Corp indicates that our attention spans are at an all-time low; we lose focus after just 8 seconds.

To retain their audience’s attention while fulfilling their aims, modern-day writers have to get creative. They need to say as much as they can, in as few words as possible.

Unfortunately, there’s a negative stigma around overusing short sentences. They break up the flow. They’re boring. They fail to show how points interrelate. But when used correctly, they can effectively communicate your point in as few words as possible. Varying sentence lengths keeps readers on their toes. Short sentences emphasize an idea and grab readers' attention.

If you want to strike the balance between overusing short-sentences and communicating your ideas concisely, then adopt the following rules.

--

--

Responses (5)

What are your thoughts?