Long sentences pile clause on clause and lose the reader before the point arrives, but the problem is hard to see while you are writing.
Average Sentence Length Calculator gives you a words-per-sentence figure for the whole text, so you can tell at a glance whether your sentences are running long and break up the worst offenders.
How to use Average Sentence Length Calculator
- Paste your prose into the editor.
- Read the average words-per-sentence figure shown as the headline number.
- Shorten the longest sentences and watch the average fall.
Use cases
- Smoothing academic prose that leans on very long sentences.
- Editing a report so each sentence makes a single point.
- Tightening web copy that readers skim rather than read.
Good to know
The average is total words divided by the number of sentences, where sentences are split on terminal punctuation. Abbreviations and decimals can affect the sentence count, and very short or list-like text can give a misleading average, so read the figure alongside the text.
Frequently asked questions
How is the average sentence length worked out?
It divides the total word count by the number of sentences detected from terminal punctuation, giving an average words-per-sentence figure.
What sentence length is easy to read?
Many editors aim for an average in the teens to low twenties for general audiences, but the right figure depends on your readers and purpose.
Can abbreviations skew the average?
Yes. A full stop in an abbreviation can look like a sentence end, which lowers the average, so check unusual text.