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Sprint 5.1: How Long Is Too Long

Learner identifies the point at which their own sentence stops being controlled, and cuts it there rather than at a word count.

7 micro-lessons

Preview · progress not saved — Chapter 1 is free

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Which of These Still Works?

Six long sentences. The longest two are the easiest to read.

1 / 6

The report recommended closure, having found that the site was unsafe, that the costs were rising, and that no buyer had come forward. Controlled?

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Length Is Not the Problem

No word limit, the breath test, and where to cut.

There is no word limit

A 31-word sentence with its verb early is easier than a 16-word sentence with its verb buried.

The report recommended closure, having found that the site was unsafe…

Counting words is the wrong test.

1 / 3

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Controlled, or Broken

Ten sentences sorted by control. Length is a red herring.

Sort each item into the correct category

Controlled — the reader can follow it once

Broken — the reader has to go back

Unassigned

31 words. The report recommended closure, having found that the site was unsafe, that the costs were rising, and that no buyer had come forward in eighteen months of trying.

19 words. The fact that the council which commissioned the study in 2019 ignored its findings angered local residents.

14 words. Cities that charge drivers report lower congestion within two years of starting.

21 words. The scheme, which was introduced in 2019, which was extended twice, and which three other cities copied, worked.

28 words. Because fares had risen every year since 2015, and because wages had not moved at all, commuters across the outer boroughs began refusing jobs in the centre.

16 words. What the committee that had been appointed in March eventually decided surprised nobody at all.

11 words. Faced with rising costs, the council cut services in June.

24 words. Although the subsidy is expensive, and although it must be renewed each year, most cities that have introduced it have kept it.

20 words. The reason that the policy which the previous administration introduced in 2019 failed was never properly explained.

18 words. The bridge, built in 1890 and widened twice since, still carries every lorry that crosses the river.

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Cut It in Two

Six sentences. Two are controlled and stay whole.

Split each sentence at the clause boundary nearest the middle, so both halves stand alone. Two are already controlled — write leave whole for those.

0 of 6 blanks filled

The fact that the council which commissioned the study in 2019 ignored its findings angered local residents. →
The report recommended closure, having found that the site was unsafe and that no buyer had come forward. →
The scheme, which was introduced in 2019, which was extended twice, and which three other cities copied, worked. →
What the committee that had been appointed in March eventually decided surprised nobody at all. →
Because fares had risen every year since 2015, and because wages had not moved, commuters began refusing jobs in the centre. →
The reason that the policy which the previous administration introduced in 2019 failed was never properly explained. →

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Long, Then Cut

Write it long, then split it, then choose.

Write one deliberately long sentence, then the same content as two, then say which you would submit.

Idea: a city introduced a congestion charge, extended it twice, and cut traffic by a fifth — but only in districts with a bus route.

Box 1: one long sentence carrying all of it. Box 2: the same content as two sentences. Box 3: which would you submit, and why?

One long sentence*

Carry all of it.

The same content as two*

Same content.

Which would you submit, and why?*

One or two sentences.

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Where Did You Run Out

Read it aloud in one breath. At which word?

Learners can ask follow-up questions and keep the thread going.

Read your long sentence aloud, in one breath.

At which word did you run out?

And is that where you would cut it?

just now

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