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I often struggle when revising complex sentences in my writing. On one hand, I want my prose to be clear and accessible to readers; on the other, I want to maintain my unique voice and style.

For example, I might write a sentence that’s rich in detail and rhythm but risks being confusing or too dense. When I try to simplify it for clarity, it sometimes feels like the sentence loses its character or flow.

What are effective strategies for rewriting complex sentences to improve clarity without sacrificing voice or style?

F. A. Mala
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1 Answers1

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Paradoxically, sacrifice voice and style.

Ignoring voice and rhythm, in the simplest possible terms, what is most important to convey? What is next most important?

First figure out what you must convey, a few points. Then figure out how to make that information stand out. Understand the point of the sentence first, then write that in your style, focusing on the point.

Many times what we write is exactly what we want. But it should always be so! First understand what you need the reader to know. Then figure out how to convey that in your voice and style.

If it's a complex sentence, that's fine. If it is a complex sentence that doesn't convey the objective, scrap it and write again.

Half of good writing is an exercise in deleting the bad writing and replacing it with less bad writing. Start over with a clear vision of what the reader must understand, if you cannot convey that in your style, you need to make an exception to your style.

Amadeus
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