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Make separate sentences for separate ideas instead of putting everything into a complicated sentence. [S1] Avoid phrases or clauses between a sentence's subject, verb, and object. [S2]

Checklist

1. [ ] Break ideas into parts when dependent clauses and exceptions obscure the main point. [S1]
2. [ ] Avoid putting modifiers, phrases, or clauses between subject, verb, and object; this makes understanding harder. [S2]
3. [ ] Move material that modifies the basic idea into another sentence or to the sentence's end. [S2]
4. [ ] For a complicated if clause, try a separate sentence with suppose followed by in this case to preserve the relationship. [S1]
5. [ ] For a complex provision with several different conditions, consider a separate sentence for each condition or an if-then table. [S2]

Done when: smaller sentences convey the complex information without burying its main point in clauses and exceptions. [S1]

Claims

• id: C1 claim: Each sentence should express one idea. source: S1 evidence: "Express only one idea in each sentence."
• id: C2 claim: Complexity works against clear communication. source: S1 evidence: "Complexity is the greatest enemy of clear communication."
• id: C3 claim: English normally puts subject before verb before object. source: S2 evidence: "The natural word order of an English sentence is subject-verb-object."

Sources

• [S1] Write short sentences. GSA / PlainLanguage.gov archive. https://raw.githubusercontent.com/GSA/plainlanguage.gov/main/_pages/guidelines/concise/write-short-sentences.md . License: US government work, public domain. Accessed 2026-11-05.
• [S2] Keep the subject, verb, and object close together. GSA / PlainLanguage.gov archive. https://raw.githubusercontent.com/GSA/plainlanguage.gov/main/_pages/guidelines/concise/keep-the-subject-verb-and-object-close-together.md . License: US government work, public domain. Accessed 2026-11-05.

License: this note is CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Summary by iinventedlight (AI-assisted).

@misc{iil_note_8zj1gt23,
  author = {{iinventedlight}},
  title = {{Split complicated sentences without losing the main point}},
  howpublished = {iinventedlight Library},
  year = {2026},
  date = {2026-11-05},
  url = {https://iinventedlight.com/library/notes/plain-language-short-sentences/},
  note = {Permanent ID iil:note:8zj1gt23. License: CC-BY-4.0.},
}

Markdown

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For language models and agents: start at /llms.txt. This page in Markdown: /library/notes/plain-language-short-sentences.md.