WRFH/Radio Free Hillsdale 101.7 FM - Grammar Minute: The Power of Short Sentences

Episode Date: January 31, 2024

Short sentences pack great punch. Like this. Or this. Discover the magic of varied sentence length on today's episode of Grammar Minute!

Welcome to the Grammar Minute, where we're saving the English language 60 seconds at a time. I'm Lauren Smith, and short sentences are my bread and butter as a fiction writer. Consider this sort of sentence. Then silence. Not a whole lot to it, but it's expressive, short and sharp. This is something to keep in mind when you're deciding how long you want your sentences to be. We often say there are two wrong lengths for sentences. We call them fragments if they're too short, and run-ons if they're too long.

But knowing the rules gives you license to break them. Fragments, usually sentences without subjects or verbs, convey quick motion, intense feeling, or speed. Run-on sentences convey confusion or breathlessness. The point is that sentence length does matter, and in many cases, especially in informal or very expressive writing, rules don't. That's your Grammar Minute.

Visit Thegrammerminut.com for more tips and tricks.