What is a good average sentence length?
Asked by: Marisa Ryan | Last update: October 24, 2025Score: 4.2/5 (32 votes)
The average sentence length is between 15–20 words. In most cases, the shorter the sentence, the better. This is because in today's age, many readers have shorter attention spans and want rapid information.
What is a reasonable sentence length?
Guides often cite 15-20 words as an optimum sentence length in academic writing, but if you are using longer or more complex vocabulary, this might be shorter. In addition, sentence length depends on the ideas you're communicating and the context they're given in.
Is a 40 word sentence too long?
The average length of a sentence is between about 10 to 20 words. Sentences of about 30 to 40 words are generally considered too long.
What is a typical sentence length?
In general, an average of 15 to 20 words is effective for most technical communication. A series of 10-word sentences would be choppy. A series of 35-word sentences would probably be too demanding. And a succession of sentences of approximately the same length would be monotonous.”
Is 35 words in a sentence too much?
Siteimprove relates these word counts within a sentence to how difficult they are to read: Fairly difficult (Medium long sentence length): 21-25 words. Difficult (Long sentence length) : 25-30 words. Very Difficult (Very long sentence length) : 30-40 words.
Make Your Writing Flow | Sentences: Transitions, Subordination, and Modification
Is a 30 word sentence OK?
MIT's rule of thumb is capping sentences at 30 words for the best readability. This can improve the flow of your writing and more easily get your message across. But if you read almost any novel, blog, or magazine, you're bound to see that rule broken.
What is the perfect sentence length?
Appropriate Sentence Length
Most readability formulas use the number of words in a sentence to measure its difficulty. Try to keep the average sentence length of your document around 20–25 words. This is a good rule of thumb to convey your meaning in a balanced way and avoiding a marathon or choppy sentences.
What is a good sentence size?
What Is the Ideal Length of a Sentence? The average sentence length is between 15–20 words. In most cases, the shorter the sentence, the better. This is because in today's age, many readers have shorter attention spans and want rapid information.
How do I know if a sentence is too long?
Rather than attempting to tailor each sentence to fit a prescribed word length, consider focusing on the amount of information conveyed per sentence instead. A sentence is too long if, upon reaching the end, your reader cannot remember how the sentence began.
Is it OK to have a long sentence?
Good writing consists of a mixture of short and long sentences. Short sentences have punch and are a great way to emphasize important points. Longer sentences add rhythm to your writing. By using both short and long sentences, you add interest and drama to your writing that keeps your readers' attention.
At what point is a sentence too long?
When is a sentence too long? It is difficult to come up with a magic number or formula for determining when a sentence is too long. A 12-word sentence that minces words can be too long, while a crystal clear, beautifully-composed 22-word sentence is sometimes just perfect. In general, though, never go beyond 30 words.
Can a sentence be 50 words long?
There is no such thing as an “ideal” sentence length. The very best writing always shows a variety of sentences, ranging from very short (one word!) to rather long (as many as 50 words or even more).
What is it called when a sentence is too long?
A run-on sentence is ungrammatical. You can have a very long sentence that is perfectly grammatical. So word count is irrelevant. A run-on sentence is one that has two independent clauses with no break—two sentences in one.
What crime has the longest sentence?
Longest Jail Sentence
One of the most striking examples of an incredibly long sentence is the case of Chamoy Thipyaso, a Thai woman who, in 1989, was sentenced to an astounding 141,078 years for corporate fraud related to a pyramid scheme.
How do judges decide sentence length?
To decide the sentence, the judge considers the facts in the case, the sentencing guidelines, and other sentencing laws. If either side wants, they can argue what sentence a judge should give at a sentencing hearing.
What is the shortest valid sentence?
The shortest non-cheating sentence would be: I am. GO! “You” is the implied subject in the sentence (because it is an imperative).
How long is the longest sentence ever?
However, Jonathan Coe's The Rotter's Club currently holds the record with a single sentence that is 13,955 words long.
What is considered a long term sentence?
There has been a marked shift in the number of people being given very long determinate sentences (LDS). We categorise this group as people who have been sentenced to 20 years or more, and who would expect to spend a period of 10 years or more in custody.
How do you know if a sentence is too wordy?
A sentence is too wordy if it can be tightened without loss of meaning. Fix a wordy sentence by removing unnecessary phrases, changing verb tenses, and choosing better adjectives. Find sentences with forms of the verb “to be” (be, am, is, are, was, were, being, been).
How do you know if a sentence is too long?
Typically, in modern fiction, most sentences average between 8 and 22 words. If you find that most of your sentences are in the 20-word range, your sentences are probably too long. While it would be fine if you have a lot of 20 to 25 word sentences, you would want to make sure you have some shorter sentences, too.
What words make a sentence longer?
If you want to make your sentences longer, conjunctions are your best friends. They're sometimes referred to as "glue words" because they connect ideas together. There are three types of conjunctions: coordinating, subordinating, and correlative.
What is a readable sentence length?
Make your average sentence 15 words long.
The maximum sentence length for a good level of comprehension is 25 words. Split long sentences up into 2 or 3, or use bullet points.
What sentence length is too long?
“For readable writing that doesn't tax your readers, vary your sentence length, seek an average in the low 20s, and cut any sentence of 45 words or more.” The authors of Writing Tips for Word Lovers write: “The 25-word rule isn't bad as long as you don't follow it.
What is the longest one word sentence?
Buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo. The eight-buffalo sentence above is commonly cited as the longest grammatically correct sentence you can write with a single word. On the surface, it looks like nonsense. None of the words communicate any intent.
How long is a proper sentence?
Shorter is Better
The best sentences are around 15-18 words long. Some sentences will be longer, but try keep your sentences to no more than 21-24 words at the most. This helps you keep your sentences grammatical because longer sentences need more conjunctions and more punctuation.