How to write short sentences and supercharge your writing
Harness the power of brevity.
Short is simple. Simple is clear. And clear is impactful.
Now let me spin this differently:
"Writing concisely tends to be more effective, as brevity often leads to clarity. When you simplify your writing, the message is clearer and easier for the audience to understand, ultimately making it more impactful."
Well, I’ll not ask which one you liked more. The answer is clear—it has been since Ernest Hemingway laid out the rules for us. That brevity wins us all.
This was one of the first things I had to unlearn as a writer—a conscious shift from winding sentences that went on and on to shorter, punchier sentences.
Since then, I have witnessed a strength in my writing that was lacking earlier.
More impact with fewer words…what more could I ask for?
But why…
This fuss about writing short sentences.
Let’s get that out of the way and strip away the last iota of resistance that might have remained in you.
1. Because the shortest route is often the best.
Think of it like a path—from the writer’s mind to the reader’s. Paved with words.
Short sentences are like shorter paths. They help you reach faster. Why take a longer path if there’s a shortcut?
2. Because short is sexy.
Master chefs spend time making their dishes appealing. To the eye. Because they know that dining starts with a visual.
The same goes for readers. They start consuming content with their eyes first. Shorter sentences ‘look’ easy to digest. They feel more confident to sit and try.
Yeah, you got it; it's more inviting.
3. Because short is crisp.
If you notice famous quotes, you’ll see the nuance.
— “Die with memories, not dreams.”
— “Mistakes are proof that you’re trying.”
— “Whether you think you can or can’t, you’re right.”
The impact. The crunch when you bite it. It comes with short sentences.
Long sentences will make them a drag, a chewy piece of meat that takes so long to eat. By the end, you would have lost its essence.
And now, the how part…
I promise it’s easy.
Sometimes, when the plot moves very fast, I stream the video at X.75 speed for a few minutes. Slowing down makes it easier to understand.
Similarly, a slow re-read of your work will help you weed out long sentences and replant shorter ones.
Big mistake—NEVER try writing in short sentences when drafting a story. It might limit your flow. Be free of any limitations.
Truncating the sentences of your article is part of the editing process. After you have poured out everything you have.
1. Write as you talk.
Have you ever spoken like this:
“The pain lingered far longer than I had thought it would. It felt as if someone was sucking the life out of my mouth— breathless.”
I doubt it. You would say something like— “I felt so hurt. I could die,” or “The pain was killing me.”
Our conversations are more straightforward. Use this in your writing to bring out the easiest way to say things and proceed from there.
2. Look out for conjunctions.
And, but, because, so….
A string of joined sentences would be too heavy for the reader to carry along as they read. In such situations:
Look for the essential parts and frame a shorter sentence or
Consider breaking it into two or more sentences. This way, you may keep all the elements of the original sentence.
For example, take this one:
"She wanted to go to the party because all her friends would be there, but she also knew she had an important exam the next day, and staying out late would make it harder for her to focus, so she was torn between having fun and being responsible."
Can become this:
"She wanted to party with her friends. But she had an important exam the next day. Staying out late would make it harder for her to focus, leaving her torn between fun and responsibility."
Or,
"She wanted to party with her friends, but an exam the next day made her torn between fun and responsibility."
It’s your call.
3. Defy grammar…sometimes.
My favorite.
Because you get to play around—without the rules. Fun, right? And this will call upon a bit of creativity, too. Let’s see.
“There are good days and then bad ones. Smart writers acknowledge the slumps and re-tune their writing to get back on track. So, if you feel stuck in your writing, know it's a phase.”
And if I throw away the rule book:
“Good days, bad days. All writers get them. But the smart ones acknowledge it. They retune, jump back, move on. Fast. So, the next time you feel the slump —know it’s a phase.”
The second way has a zing to the feeling. Telling the writer to ‘just zip it and move on.’ Giving a certain rhythm to the words, and that’s refreshing.
Use it. Play around.
4. Choose active over passive.
I am sure you have been told this many times now, so start using it.
Oops!!! Yeah, you caught me—passive voice. Let’s set it right now.
“I am sure you have been told this many times now, so start using it.”
About turn!!
“You have heard this often; it's time to use it.”
Better? I bet. It’s shorter, clearer, and crispier. So, start being active about it.
5. Cut the filler words/phrases.
This is a long list. We pick them from our day-to-day conversations, but they are not so welcome in our writings. Watch out.
Here are some examples:
"In order to" — Use ‘to’
"At this point in time" — Delete it.
"It is important to note that" — Delete it. Or a simple ‘please note.’
"Due to the fact that" — A ‘since’ or ‘because’ would do.
There are many such phrases. Go for the simpler substitution. Don’t let these weigh down your sentences unnecessarily.
6. Love one-word sentences.
Ideally, this should come under defying grammar, but I wanted this to have some special attention.
A solo performance.
Personally, when I use them, I do it for two reasons:
Accentuate more white (blank space) into my writing and
Create a mic-drop moment, a tiny suspense, a holding thought—an intentional pause for a crucial idea to shine.
A great tool to hook your audience.
Try it.
Having said that…
But should it be the only guiding star? Are long sentences a complete no-no?
Well…not exactly. Don’t go overboard and make a midget of every sentence. No. Try to create a symphony of long and short ones.
Sometimes, a nuanced elaboration does justice to the story. A take-your-time sentence adds flare to the work. So, be objective to what the story demands.
Good practice? Yes. But rule? No.
Finally…
When I started writing, I was not equipped with any writing dos and don’ts. I was my master—I would ramble the way I liked it.
But with time, I picked up these nuggets of advice. One of the first ones was truncating lengthy sentences. And I will admit, I could see the difference it made to my writing.
It’s a conscious choice—moving from longer, winding sentences to short ones.
And it’s a sensible one.
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