One of the most important elements of your work on a book is sentence structure. Although you might give great attention to character arcs, story development, and rich descriptions, your word choice also counts. Many times, writers make the simple error of utilizing extended sentences. Long sentences may initially seem like a fantastic concept, but they can often damage rather than benefit your book.

This blog post will discuss, why long sentences can be a problem for your writing, especially when working with professional book editors, and share tips on how to improve your sentences to keep your readers interested.

Why Long Sentences Hurt Your Book

You might be asking, why would a long sentence be inappropriate? Many well-known authors, after all, employ extended sentences to establish a specific rhythm or style. Still, most of the time extended phrases have the reverse impact. They could make it more difficult for your readers to grasp and enjoy your work instead of helping it to improve.

Long sentences typically cause problems since they could overpower your audience. Readers have short attention spans, hence following the meaning becomes more difficult when a sentence is very long. This is particularly evident in cases when the language is convoluted or features too many ideas intermingled without logical ties.

How Long Should a Sentence Be?

Clear and good writing depends on knowing the right sentence length. Though there is no set guideline, most books have a 15 to 20 word average sentence length. Once a sentence stretches beyond that, readers find it more difficult to understand the point of view.

Professional book editors may counsel varying sentence lengths in balance. You want to clearly communicate ideas without overly complicating them. Should your sentences be very long, your viewers could become lost or annoyed.

The Issue with Really Long Sentences

Imagine coming onto a statement spanning 50, 60, or even 100 words. Following such kind of language can be challenging. Very long sentences may try to pack in too much detail or contain numerous concepts, which could be good in moderation but can make your writing harder to understand if overdone.

Given its difficulty to follow, a long sentence can perplex your reader. One sentence can become confusing from too many concepts or information.

Here’s an example of what a long sentence might look like:

Even though the weather was bad, with overcast skies and a drizzle unusual for this time of year, they decided to continue their hike because the promise of reaching the summit and seeing the beautiful valley view was too strong to ignore. There was a risk that the weather would worsen and they might be caught in a storm.

While this sentence contains much information, it isn’t easy to process all of it at once. The key idea—that they decided to continue their hike—gets lost in the extra details. This kind of sentence can tire the reader rather than keep them engaged.

How Many Words Does a Sentence Have?

The environment and type of writing you are doing will affect the perfect length of a sentence. Generally speaking, most professional book editors advise keeping sentences between 15 and 25 words though. This is a sensible length that allows you to completely communicate your views without boring the reader.

Once a statement runs more than forty or fifty words, think about whether you could divide it into smaller, simpler-to-read chunks. Can I cut this sentence down? Does this sentence require such length?

Signs That Your Sentences Are Too Long

If you’re unsure whether your sentences are too long, here are some signs to watch for. These are good clues that a sentence might need shortening:

Lack of Focus: A sentence that tries to say too many things at once can confuse readers.

Too Many Clauses: A sentence with too many different parts can feel crowded or complicated.

Reader Fatigue: If the sentence feels tiring, it’s likely too long. Readers should be able to follow the sentence easily without feeling worn out.

Broken Flow: If the sentence is so long that readers lose track of the main point, it’s too much to handle in one go.

How to Fix Long Sentences: Simple Fixes for Better Writing

Now that we’ve talked about why long sentences can hurt your book, let’s look at how you can fix them. Here are some practical ways to make your writing more straightforward:

Use Punctuation Wisely

The environment and type of writing you are doing will affect the perfect length of a sentence. Generally speaking, most experienced editors advise keeping sentences between 15 and 25 words though. This is a sensible length that allows you to completely communicate your views without boring the reader.

As follows:

Before: Storm clouds assembled to create black shadows across the terrain. The trees swung wildly as the wind started to scream, and the branches creaked under strain—a definite indication that something was about to happen.

After: Following the storm clouds gathered to create dark shadows across the terrain. The trees swung wildly as the wind started to scream. The sure indication that something was about to happen was the branches groaning under pressure.

See how easily one can follow the material when the sentence is broken up into smaller bits.

Eliminate Repetition

Sometimes, long sentences happen because we repeat the same idea in different words. If that’s the case, eliminate unnecessary Repetition to make your writing more direct.

Stick to One Idea Per Sentence

Keep each sentence focused on one main idea. Break your sentence into several sentences clarifying a single idea if it tries to cover too much area. Your readers will find it simpler thus to follow.

Read Your Writing Aloud

Reading your phrases aloud will enable you to identify issues. Should you find yourself confused or out of breath while reading, the sentence is too long. Hearing the words makes it always easier to find problems than merely reading them silently.

Use Paragraph Breaks

Sometimes the arrangement of the sentences counts more than just the sentence length. Breaking your work into tiny paragraphs will help readers to absorb huge blocks of text more easily. This let every concept stand out on its own.

Conclusion

Although long sentences appear like a smart approach to convey difficult concepts or add more detail to your work, they can often overwhelm your readers and complicate your book’s followability. Understanding how long a sentence should be and applying punctuation, clarity, and targeted concepts will help you to make your book readable and keep your readers interested.

Recall that writing is essentially about effective communication. Ask yourself the next time you create a scene if the sentence should be as long as it is. Assume it won’t complicate things and break it apart. Your book will shine and your readers will thank you.

See the professional agency Alpha Ghostwriter if you’re not sure whether your sentences are too long or require assistance tightening your work. They may provide professional recommendations to guarantee your book is polished, readable, and as fun as it could be for your readers.