Keep your reader reading by using short sentences and short paragraphs.

Studies show that people have to read sentences of more than 28-30 words at least twice and that long paragraphs are difficult for your reader. If you make your reader work too hard, they might give up.

As a general rule, keep the average length of your sentences to 18-22 words, with only one or two thoughts per sentence. If you are using technical or unusual terms, drop the count to 15-18 words.

Here’s a before/after example:

BEFORE: I worked with a number of managers and supervisors to explore the issues that surfaced during the change process, including their major concerns about their own future and a sense of loss as a result of change, and their less urgent concerns that have to do with a reconciliation of conflicting needs and priorities, and their questions about how the reorganization will affect production. (64 words)

Here is an easy method for revising a long sentence:

1. Break down the ideas in the sentence.

I worked with managers and supervisors to explore the issues resulting from changes.

Issues included:

concerns about their future
sense of loss as a result of change
concerns about conflicting needs and priorities
questions about how the reorganization will affect production

2. Write separate (short) sentences containing only one or two ideas.

AFTER: I worked with a number of managers and supervisors to explore the issues that surfaced during the change process. (19) People had a profound sense of loss as a result of the change and were very concerned about their future. (20) They were also concerned about reconciling conflicting needs and priorities and had questions about how the reorganization will affect production. (20)