This arrangement makes it easier to understand. Here are a couple of examples:
| Known / Old information. | Unknown / New information. | |
|---|---|---|
| a) - You know Jane next door, ... | ... she just bought a new car. |
|
| b) - Our problem ... | ... can be solved by changing the temperature of the water. |
They are easier to follow than long ones. Three short sentences are better than one long sentence. Keep them simple and avoid complex constructions, so try to keep to one idea per sentence.
Compare:
a) “In the first instance, it is necessary to immerse the egg in question in the appropriately heated water contained in the domestic cooking receptacle.”
b) “First, you put the egg in the boiling water.”
Shorter is usually better. Aim for less than 15 words.
If they aren’t, add words that link them clearly together. Here is an example:
a) Unconnected -
“Many intervention studies have focused on increasing physical activity. Obesity has a negative effect on health. Studies report good results. It is difficult to include all areas of a patient’s wellbeing.”
b) Connected -
“Many intervention studies have focused on increasing physical activity because obesity has a negative effect on health. These studies report good results. However, it is difficult to include all areas of a patient’s wellbeing.”
If you don’t make the connections clear, the writing is confusing and readers have to work hard to understand and may give up or get the wrong idea. Notice how in example a), it almost feels like random sentences, but in b). the way that the sentences relate to each other has been made clear by adding because, these, and however.
In the example, the words because, however, and these are used, but you can choose the best words for your sentences.
Now try this quick activity about making effective sentences.
