I’ve changed my mind. I always used to tell people that the maximum number of words in a sentence should be 30. It was what I was taught when I trained as a journalist and a guideline I always stuck to. It ensured sentences were always readable and clear, but did allow for some longish sentences for instance for lists or when writing descriptive text. Now, however, I think the maximum number should be more like 25. People are becoming more accustomed to short, snappy content. Long sentences spread over several lines looks rather off-putting when you are scrolling down your phone.
I wonder how much things will change over the next few years and whether I’ll be recommending sentences of 20 words!
