- Home
- Word count guides
- Sentence length
How long should a sentence be?
Aim for an average of 15 to 20 words a sentence, with a mix of short and longer ones. Plain-language guides suggest keeping most sentences under about 25 words.
Work it out
pages, single-spaced, Arial 12 pt, about 500 words a page
- Handwritten pages
- 1.2
- Reading time
- 1 min 16 sec
- Speaking time
- 2 min–2 min 18 sec
- Typing time
- 7 min 30 sec
- Paragraphs
- 2–3
- Sentences
- 15–20
- Characters with spaces
- about 1,800
Write it in the word counter with a goal of at least 300 words.
Open the word counterSentences in a text
| Length | 15 words each | 20 words each |
|---|---|---|
| 100 words | 7 | 5 |
| 250 words | 17 | 13 |
| 500 words | 33 | 25 |
| 1,000 words | 67 | 50 |
| 2,000 words | 133 | 100 |
Why average length matters
Long sentences make readers hold more in their heads before the point arrives. Readability formulas such as Flesch Reading Ease use average sentence length as one of their two inputs, along with word length. Plain-language guides agree on the target: the Oxford Guide to Plain English recommends an average of 15 to 20 words, and the UK government’s style guide for GOV.UK asks writers to keep sentences to 25 words or fewer.
Average is the key word. Text made only of short sentences reads like a list; vary the length to give it rhythm, and save the longest sentences for ideas that really belong together.
How to check and shorten
- Measure: the word counter shows your average and your longest sentence.
- Split at “and”, “but”, “which”: most long sentences are two sentences joined.
- Move the subject and verb forward. Long openings before the main verb are the hardest to read.
- Cut doubled words: “each and every”, “first and foremost”.
Questions and answers
What is the average sentence length in English?
In clear modern prose, about 15 to 20 words. Academic and legal writing often averages more than 25.
How many words is too long for a sentence?
There is no hard limit, but sentences over 30 to 35 words are hard to follow on a first read. Check them.
How many sentences is 300 words?
About 15 to 20.