Writing an article is not the same as writing a book. Articles are more concise than books. Does this mean that articles do not have any substance? No, it does not. Well-written articles are rich in content and provide insight into their subject matter. This text will guide you on how to write great articles.
Use Good Titles
The first step to writing a great article is coming up with a good title. The title of your article is the first attraction for your readers. Your title should be easy to read and understand at first glance. It should also convey the essence or theme of your content.
Short titles do better than long titles that have so many words. Don’t forget to also use simple words that people can understand, irrespective of their educational backgrounds.
Use Subheadings in your Article
Make use of subheadings if you want to write a great article. Subheadings are very vital to the quality of your writing. Before most people settle down to read an article, they scan it to get the summary. Subheadings help your readers quickly get an idea of what your article is all about. Your subheadings should encapsulate or capture the idea in each subtopic. Study how to write a good summary of an article, for more guidance on how to write subheadings.
Focus on One Central Topic
Select a topic before you begin writing your article. Do not veer off course; keep your attention on the subject at hand. Don’t cram so many disparate issues into one article. The central topic should be further illuminated by each of your subtopics. Anyone who reads your article should immediately understand its main point. This article on 10 ways to improve your writing skills might be of value to you.
Write Short Sentences
In order to write a great article, you should put your sentence length into consideration. Write short sentences. A short sentence could be a sentence of 15 to 20 words. Short sentences are straight to the point. They are easy to read.
The shorter your sentences, the less ambiguous they are likely to be. You can have a blend of long and short sentences. Use the lengthier sentences to add more information where necessary.
Use Simple Sentences
If you want to write great articles, use mostly simple sentences. A simple sentence is a kind of sentence structure that has only one idea. Simple sentences are straight to the point. They are also easy to read. Use simple sentences because they help you pass across your message effectively.
Types of Sentences
There are 3 types of sentences: simple sentences, complex sentences, and compound sentences. Each sentence has its uses and should feature in your article. Let’s explain this further.
Simple Sentence
A simple sentence has one clause. An example of a simple sentence is ‘John listens to music’. This sentence conveys one idea. There is no additional information. It says just one thing: John listens to music. This sentence is unambiguous.
Complex Sentence
A complex sentence has an independent clause and a dependent clause. An example of a complex sentence is ‘John listens to music, even while working on his computer’. In this sentence, we get the additional information that John listens to music as he works on his computer.
The complex sentence is made up of two clauses ‘John listens to music’ and ‘even while working on his computer’. The first clause is independent; it can stand on its own.
However, the second clause cannot stand on its own, so it is a dependent clause. A complex sentence provides more information for the readers.
Compound Sentence
Compound sentences have two dependent clauses joined by a conjunct. An example of a compound sentence is ‘John listens to music but he does not sing along’. The two clauses: ‘John listens to music’ and ‘he does not sing along’ are joined by the conjunction but.
Both clauses can stand on their own; they are independent clauses. In other words, ‘John listens to music’ makes sense on its own. ‘He does not sing along’ also makes sense on its own. Such compound sentences provide more information, just like complex sentences.
Don’t Make it Too Lengthy
Keep in mind that your goal is to write a great article and not a book. This means that your scope would be narrow. It also means that your word count should probably not exceed 600 to 1200 words.
An article aims to give people quick information on the go. Your target audience would be people who need to get the gist as quickly as possible due to time constraints.
So, stick to the plan and put across the meat of your content in as few words as possible. If your article is very lengthy, it can make you lose the attention of your readers. If your readers wanted to read a book, they would have gone for one. Don’t let an article turn into a full text.
Don’t Leave out Important Details
Although you are constrained by word count, the quality of your article should not be compromised. Ensure that you put in the relevant details if you desire to write a great article. Make your articles of high quality. Cut out the unnecessary or repetitive information and leave in only the very best and essential information. You might find it useful to learn how to write great blog articles.
Writing an article is a bit different from writing a full-length book. When you set out to write great articles, you have to put your best foot forward. Keep in mind that you don’t have the luxury of space. We hope you have got some insight on how to write great articles.