By Dana P Skopal, PhD

One guideline of plain English states to have an average sentence length of about 20 words. Shorter sentences can work and convey your message to the reader. Note that this is an average length, so the occasional long sentence can be used.

However, if the ‘what’ or topic that you are writing about is not clear, it does not matter how short or long the sentence may be. Our research showed that the length of the noun group (nominal group) describing the ‘what’ in each sentence was just as important as sentence length.

A reader wants to know ‘what’ you are talking about, so check the length of the noun groups as well as your sentence length. Nouns generally describe the ‘what’, ‘who’ or ‘where’. In English, we can use dependent clauses to add more information, but some writers tend to add too much information.

An example of a noun group describing a process is: auditing processes for verifying safety systems.

The length is six words, which it what our researched showed was an appropriate length.

A lengthy noun group describing changes: the changes in the intended land use by the property owner or local council area (15 words).

Ask yourself if the ‘what’ is easy to understand after one reading? Maybe make the action clearer: the property owner or local council can apply to change the land use.

So check the length of your noun groups – or check the length of your descriptions. Your reader wants to be able to understand the ‘what’ or topic that you are writing about. Don’t hide your message in lengthy complex noun groups.

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