The transition from general writing to in-depth research writing is a challenge. Academic writing is formal, intricate, and precise, unfamiliar to most new scholars. To articulate their ideas effectively, they construct long-winded and convoluted sentences. However, this is not the right approach.
Excessively long constructions can overwhelm the reader. On the contrary, overly short phrases can create sudden shifts of ideas that make them feel disconnected. Therefore, achieving optimal legibility for producing an engaging and informative study is essential.
This blog will discuss practical techniques for refining sentences to enhance understanding. So, let’s get started!
In academic writing, maintaining the best sentence length is important for clarity. Generally, statements in academic writing should range from 15 to 20 words. This standard length helps ensure that each sentence communicates intricate ideas effectively and concisely.
However, there is no strict standard for sentence length. This is because it can vary depending on the context. Some concepts may require longer constructions for a full explanation for the audience. Meanwhile, others are best communicated through shorter, more direct phrasing. The right strategy is to keep a balance in providing enough detail while maintaining an easy-to-read structure. If you're struggling to refine your research title along with clear and concise writing, you can use a research title generator to create an engaging and well-structured title that aligns with your study.
Here are some important strategies to strike the right balance in sentence length for a scientific report.
Sentences with multiple clauses and sub-clauses get overly complicated for the audience. They have a hard time reading it. Also, processing excessive information simultaneously affects comprehension.
Therefore, it is important to convert dense ideas into simpler ones. To do so, identify the core message and then express it concisely. Before starting, ask yourself:
What is the main point you are trying to convey?
You can also split long sentences into shorter, independent ones, each focusing on a single idea. Then, connect these shorter constructions with appropriate transitional words (e.g., therefore, however, furthermore) to maintain flow.
The voice of a sentence also matters when adjusting sentence length. The active voice generally leads to shorter, more direct statements that improve readability. The passive voice can create longer, more difficult phrasing. However, passive construction is sometimes necessary to emphasize a specific term.
Writing in an appropriate tone is essential to deliver the message while maintaining a suitable length. Structure sentences so the subject acts whenever possible. Reserve passive voice for situations where the action is more important than the actor or when the actor is unknown.
Example:
Here, both sentences emphasize different things.
Passive: The data were analyzed by the scientists.
Active: The scientists analyzed the data.
Keeping sentences the same length throughout the document negatively impacts its legibility. A monotonous series of similar-length statements can feel dull and un-engaging. To maintain reader interest, vary sentence length. Mix short and long constructions throughout the document. Use shorter phrases for emphasis and precision on a subject, and describe sophisticated explanations in longer statements.
You can expand the idea if you find short sentences that need more context. Similarly, if statements are longer than 30-35 words, break them into shorter ones without changing their meaning. For complicated sentences, you can use the Sentence Shortener by RewordingTool.io. It will create a concise version of the text in a professional tone while preserving the original meaning.
Unnecessary words in the statements make them difficult to understand. It also distracts people from focusing on the main argument. Excess wording weakens the impact of your findings, which reduces their effectiveness.
To add clarity, identify and remove repetitive phrases. Also, replace wordy phrases with precise alternatives and use strong verbs instead of lengthy descriptions. During revision, critically examine each sentence and eliminate any terms that do not contribute meaningfully.
Concise writing enhances both readability and impact. Meanwhile, long sentences do not convey the meaning accurately. They can make it harder for readers to grasp essential information. A well-structured and comprehensive monograph should deliver its message without excessive wording.
To achieve conciseness, you can remove unnecessary adjectives and adverbs. Also, avoid vague phrases that add little value. Instead of explaining an idea with multiple similar words, use a single, stronger term. Moreover, ensure that every sentence serves a clear purpose.
The phrase, “The study clearly and explicitly demonstrates,” is a bit clunky. Instead, we can simplify it to “The study demonstrates.”
The construction of the statements within a dissertation or paper has an important role in its understandability. That is why the length of the phrases is optimized to make the text clear, engaging, and easy to read. Polishing sentence structure improves the flow of your writing and strengthens the overall impact of your study. Therefore, striking the right balance between brevity and detail ensures that ideas are effectively discussed without overwhelming the audience.
Rewording Tool
