Imagine if the person who developed “Just do it” for Nike was a lover of long sentences.
That brilliant tagline could have been: “If you think you can, you probably should get around to it now.” Not good!
It may seem counter-intuitive, but it takes a load more effort and discipline to craft a short sentence. To find words that add to your message and leave out the ones that don’t.
I thought my vocab was pretty impressive, but Deidre Macken shared a newbie in a recent article: parataxis?
It’s when the sum of enough short sentences is greater than the parts. Paratactic sentences help readers focus on an idea, thought, or emotion.
I am challenged by this every day. Can I get to the point in sooner? Can I say something powerful in 2 short sentences instead of one loooong one?
If you want your communications to engage, activate or persuade…try short sentences. Just do it!
A CHALLENGE: Can you write a comment about this post in 6 words or less?
