Why Paragraphs Should Be Limited to Eight or Fewer Sentences - Essay Example

Limiting the length of paragraphs to eight sentences have also been associated with a variety of advantages. According to Lerner, a short paragraph facilitates an emphasis on points and induces breaks in reading. These breaks allow the reader to meditate on the content of the read paragraph (p. 26). Similarly, VanHuss associates a short paragraph with “effective writing” (VanHuss, p. 264). She argues that the ability of the audience to read a written material depends on the length of the paragraph, which she prefers to be at most eight sentences.

Paragraphs should, therefore, be limited to eight or fewer sentences to facilitate readership (VanHuss, p. 264). First reactions to documents with long paragraphs Long paragraphs induce the concept of complexity of the work. This reduces interest in the written material and a further poor concentration. The overall first reaction is a formed negative attitude towards the document. Works cited Lerner, Marcia. Writing smart: your guide to great writing. New York, NY: The Princeton Review, 2001.

Print Manser, Martin. The Facts on File Guide to good writing. New York, NY: Infobase Publishing, 2006. Print VanHuss, Susie. College Keyboarding: Advanced Word Processing: Lessons 56-120. Toronto, Canada: Cengage Learning, 2011. Print