What do you think is the...

General Scorch · Jan 31, 2008

What do you think is the average word count for a sentence? By that, I mean what do you think is the safe zone where a sentence isn't too long, but isn't a choppy road bump?

In my opinion, I'd think that a sentence between 20 and 30 words would be okay, but that's just me. That's about the average length of sentences I see in many of the stories I read. Plus, I often find myself writing sentences around that length.

Also, do you think a sentence containing 60+ words is healthy? I remember when I was a lot younger. MS Word corrected me on a "long sentence." Word's definition for a long sentence is a "sentence 60+ words in length." I think, to say the least, that 60 words is a little excessive, no offence to anyone.

So, honestly, tell me what you think the average (or range) of words per sentence is/should be. I'm curious.

GS.

P.S. Sorry if I put this in the wrong forum, but I thought this would be best suited here.

PinkUnicorn · Jan 31, 2008

20 to 30 words per sentance? WOW! I was always taught to never write a sentance longer than 7 words. Of course I do have a hard time stopping at seven. My average tends to be 12 to 14 words per sentance. Now that I've said that, I'll count these. How many words did I use each?

1 = 6
2 = 1
3 = 13
4 = 11
5 = 11
6 = 8
7 = 7

Now I shall count the rest. (6)

My thought is, you want your reader to understand you. (10) Simplicity affects reading comprehension. (4) The shorter the sentence the greater the comprehension. (8) Reading comprehension is measured on a scale of 1% comprehension per word per sentance. (14) The more words, the lower the comprehension. (6) The fewer words the greater the comprehension. (7)

In other words: a one word sentance has 100% reader comprehension. (11) A 100 word sentance has 1% reader comprehension. (8) A 50 word sentance has a 50% reader comprehension. (9) A 25 word sentance has a 75% comprehension. (8)

The goal of a reader is to understand what the writer has said. (12) The goal of the writer is to be understood by the reader. (12) To be best understood you should stirve for as few words per sentance as possible. (15) Or so such tests as the SATs would have us believe. (10)

So, basicly, avoid long sentance when you can. (8) Shorten long sentances when ever possible. (6) Most long sentances can be cut into two shorter ones. (10)

~~~~~~~~~~~

EDIT: Had to come back and count my words to see if I wrote in my own advice! Looks like 9 was my average in this post. I think I write close to 15 average in fiction writing.

aka eraser · Jan 31, 2008

I just checked my WIP. I'm 25,000 words in and the average sentence length is 14 words.

However, my maximum words per sentence is 63. Therefore, I must conclude that 60 words per sentence is not excessive.

If they're goooooooooood words.

Yeshanu · Feb 1, 2008

Read it out loud. If it sounds choppy and too long, it's choppy and too long. If it sounds smooth, and if by the end of the sentence you still understand what the sentence was about, then it's not too long.

The only other "rule" I follow regarding sentence length is to vary the length. A piece sounds very awkward to me if the sentences are all the same length.

'Nuff said.

Bufty · Feb 1, 2008

Word count is the last thing on my mind when I'm constructing sentences.

HeronW · Feb 1, 2008

I don't count words but impact. Short sentances work better for action, longer ones for descriptions. Anything over 45-50 words gets me eyeballs glazing over no matter what it's saying.

bubbagringo · Feb 10, 2008

Bufty said:
Word count is the last thing on my mind when I'm constructing sentences.

same here

However, I've found when revising I tend to shorten rather than lengthen sentences...

Elladog · Feb 11, 2008

I'm another who doesn't think too much about word count when constructing a sentence. That said, however, I know I am guilty of too-long sentences a lot of the time. In a business writing course I took, I was taught that less than 6 is too short, more than 14 is too long, and 10 is generally about right.
Pretty much everything I learned in business writing goes out the window when I am writing creatively, though. I don't think creative writing can be guided by as strict a set of rules as other kinds of writing.

General Scorch · Feb 11, 2008

Thanks for the input, all. This was more or less a poll-type thread than a "I need help." I was curious, just because I've never taken a course in this stuff with creative writing and stuff; mostly just reading and english mechanics. I agree with most that word count is the last thing on my mind when writing. The only reason I know how much words per sentence I have is because my word processing program tells me after every spell/grammar check cycle. However, if the sentence is over 30 words, I try to cut it down or split it into two sentences ^^

Oh, and the thing I said for 20-30 words wasn't accurate, it's more like 10-18 for an average for me.

benbradley · Feb 11, 2008

The average number of words per sentence is part of the calculation for the "fog index:"
http://process.umn.edu/groups/ppd/documents/information/writing_tips.cfm
The longer your sentences, supposedly the harder they are to read, and the higher level of education the reader needs to be able to easily read your writings.

So, yeah, this is important, but there's no "fixed number of words" that your sentences "should" have. (lowering my averege by saying... ) Have variety in everything.

General Scorch · Feb 11, 2008

benbradley said:
The average number of words per sentence is part of the calculation for the "fog index:"
http://process.umn.edu/groups/ppd/documents/information/writing_tips.cfm
The longer your sentences, supposedly the harder they are to read, and the higher level of education the reader needs to be able to easily read your writings.

So, yeah, this is important, but there's no "fixed number of words" that your sentences "should" have. (lowering my averege by saying... ) Have variety in everything.

I never heard of the "fog index," but I am familiar to what you are pertaining to. I typically use the Flesch-Kincaid Reading Scale, though, just because that's what my computer uses. I'm guessing the two scales are similar.

Also, as a note, I find that the shorter the piece, the higher the level of education is needed, and the longer the work, the lower that education goes down. At least, those are my observations. I'm probably wrong.

Daehota · Feb 17, 2008

HeronW;2020722]I don't count words but impact. Short sentances work better for action, longer ones for descriptions. Anything over 45-50 words gets me eyeballs glazing over no matter what it's saying.

I agree. I like to vary the lengths of sentences in a paragraph where applicable. A 60-word sentence would have my thoughts wandering, I think.

What do you think is the...

General Scorch

worst writer EVAR

PinkUnicorn

Tossing Elves in bed with Unicorns

aka eraser

Fish Whisperer

Yeshanu

Elf Queen

Bufty

Where have the last ten years gone?

HeronW

Down Under Fan

bubbagringo

Elladog

General Scorch

worst writer EVAR

benbradley

It's a doggy dog world

General Scorch

worst writer EVAR

Daehota