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The Problem of Long Sentences

When you dedicate yourself to editing yourself for a while, you'll notice your own writing quirks.


For example, I write really long sentences and always have to edit them down.


Short sentences don't guarantee clarity, but they usually beat the maze of longer, convoluted ones. Aim for an average of about 20 words.


You don't have to be a bean—er, word—counter to find overlong sentences. Instead, just eyeball it—aim for two typed lines. Or, let your ears guide you—read your work aloud and chop up the sentences that sound and feel like a breathless marathon.


Here's a student example: "However, what I did learn from my younger years at the university and that situation, is, even though we may make mistakes, life is about learning from those mistakes, and growing from those painful mistakes, and understanding them, and moving forward, and even if it might be scary and overwhelming, what is the worst that can happen? I make another mistake. So, I pick up the pieces and go forward, like I always have."


Here's that same example, but simplified: Life involves making mistakes, but the key is to learn and grow from them. Even when faced with challenges, I've learned to move forward, understand the lessons, and not fear making more mistakes, as they contribute to personal growth.





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