Sentence length can be a powerful tool in your writing and you should use it purposefully. Longer sentences can lure a reader in, while shorter, more stacatto sentences keep that attention with fast-paced action.
This chart shows the length, in words, of each sentence through your document. Groups of shorter sentences likely read faster, while groups of longer sentences may be dense or hard to read.
Selecting an area on the chart will zoom in to focus on just that area. Double-clicking the chart will reset the zoom back to your entire document.
This sentence has five words. Here are five more words. Five-word sentences are fine. But several together become monotonous. Listen to what is happening. The writing is getting boring. The sound of it drones. It’s like a stuck record. The ear demands some variety.
Now listen. I vary the sentence length, and I create music. Music. The writing sings. It has a pleasant rhythm, a lilt, a harmony. I use short sentences. And I use sentences of medium length. And sometimes, when I am certain the reader is rested, I will engage him with a sentence of considerable length, a sentence that burns with energy and builds with all the impetus of a crescendo, the roll of the drums, the crash of the cymbals–sounds that say listen to this, it is important.
So write with a combination of short, medium, and long sentences. Create a sound that pleases the reader's ear. Don't just write words. Write music.
— Gary Provost, 100 Ways to Improve Your Writing