Why is short sentences used

If a short, simple sentence follows a series of longer, compound or complex sentences, it will stand out and create emphasis, as in this example:. We heard a gurgling sound that was sweet music in our ears, and, peering around, found a stream of fresh water almost at our feet. A moment later we were down on our knees drinking the pure ice-cold water in long draughts that put new life into us.

It was a splendid moment. This extract finishes with a short, simple sentence to emphasise how pleased the writer is when he and his team find life-giving water. Simple sentences A simple sentence is built from the minimum of a subject and a main verb.

No one is here. Too dark. I look up. I pull out my phone. I need help. I need to breathe. Whilst this excerpt could be out of a horror book. When you read it, you feel that sense of danger that this character is feeling.

Adding short sentences to your writing repertoire is highly recommended. It will go against the grain for more seasoned writers and some grammar police will be quick to tell you that you are getting it wrong. The thing is, you want your audience to actually read your content. Sometimes that requires throwing out the rule book. Short sentences really work!

Slow down. Take a deep breath. This blog is going to be read at your pace. Why use them? You are about to find out. Or is it? So, why do writers use short sentences? When author starts using short phrases, usually it is a sign that something might happen. So it is a way to create the tension. No noises. No sounds. Just a light shade of the moon is seen. When a normal pace of the writing is abrupt by the short sentences, it may be a sign of a significant detail. She was tall, fashionably dressed girl in her twenties.

The only detail that could tell about her status was her watch. Chopard L. C Tourbillon Baguette. Limited edition. Tourbillon mechanics. Another important usage of the short sentences is associated with the out-of-the-blue events or acts. For example, the story tells about the girl who is lost in the forest late at night:.

The girl is scared. She rushes without proper direction and tries to keep her tears away. She hopes to find the right way and get out of this terrifying place.

It is rare for a text to be written entirely in either short or long sentences, but the appropriate ratio of the two types varies greatly. A book written for young adults, for example, may use shorter sentences than a complex scientific paper. Blog posts and speech handouts are also usually written with short sentences.

Short sentences are particularly common in advertising text.