On Sentences
12 sentences that will change how you think about sentences.
10X Writer #88
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The sentence is the smallest unit of thinking. Get it wrong and nothing above it can save you.
Most sentences fail not because they’re poorly written, but because they’re trying to do too much.
One sentence, one idea. That’s not a rule — it’s a mercy to your reader.
Vague verbs are where sentences go to die. Be specific about what’s happening.
If a sentence starts with “It is” or “There are,” it’s usually stalling before the real point.
Weak sentences hedge. Strong sentences commit.
A long sentence isn’t a problem. A cluttered one is.
Short sentences create emphasis. Use them when the idea deserves to land hard.
The first sentence of anything has one job — make the second one impossible to skip.
Every sentence is a small promise to the reader that the next one will be worth it.
Write the sentence. Then ask if it earned its place. Most can’t answer yes.
The best sentences don’t show off. They disappear into the meaning.