How to Write Paragraphs for Easy Readability

Cambridge Dictionary defines readability as the “quality of being easy and enjoyable to read.”

Writing for readability is key to catching and keeping your audience’s attention, and paragraphs (along with sentences) are the building blocks of writing. They play a foundational role in the organization and visual impact of content. 

As a result, it’s necessary to consider the format and length of each paragraph and its impact on overall readability.

In This Article

• Why readability is important for improving audience engagement.
• Features of easy-to-read paragraphs, such as visually scannable content and concise wording.
• How to write readable paragraphs — a complete step-by-step guide.

Why Readability Is Important

Readability can impact the reach of an online article and audience engagement.

The easier the content is to read, the more accessible it is to a large audience. 

Content with good readability retains readers, encouraging them to stay on the site, or even share the material. 

However, if a reader finds text difficult to understand, they are more likely to leave the site which can also impact bounce rates.

Example: One way to think about the importance of readability is to consider the wording or phrasing in technical papers and academic journals. Without a background in that particular field or industry, the complex language may be hard to decipher.

So, when writing web content for readability, it’s best practice to switch out complex terms with ones that are more common for the general public.

This is a great opportunity to use a readability checker to highlight sections that may be difficult to read, and require further editing.

However, vocabulary and jargon are just one aspect of a text’s readability. 

It’s also important to consider text formatting, including paragraph and sentence style.

Key Features of Easy-to-Read Paragraphs

Visually scannable

Long, dense paragraphs can be difficult for readers to digest — particularly for online content, where readers often skim and scan articles. 

Keep paragraphs short with the main idea in the first sentence to help readers scan the article and find the information they need.

Keep it concise 

A text with short, simple sentences and focused paragraphs is easier to read, so each paragraph should only contain one main idea. 

If any sentences lead away from the topic sentence rather than explaining or reinforcing it, those sentences may need their own paragraph or have to be cut entirely.

Keeping the majority of paragraphs at a maximum of 3 to 5 sentences ensures that only one topic is addressed per paragraph. 

Consider overall structure

When writing for online content, it is important to consider the flow of the piece, from the smallest to the largest sections. 

Just as each paragraph should flow smoothly from one to the next, so should each sentence within the paragraph. Use transition words to improve the flow.

Simple or plain language

A common mistake is using overly technical words specific to one industry or profession. Instead, use accessible language that a wide audience can understand. 

Essentially, avoid too much jargon and keep sentences simple and precise. 

Additionally, consider your target audience and tailor the vocabulary, ideas, and examples to their experience.

How to Write Readable Paragraphs Step-by-Step

Paragraphs are the building blocks of a larger piece, and then sentences are the building blocks of paragraphs. 

To write a paragraph with good readability, first break the paragraph down to the sentence level. 

Follow these steps to improve the readability of a paragraph:

Step 1: Write a strong topic sentence

The topic sentence should define the main idea of the paragraph. Ideally, each topic sentence grabs the reader’s attention and pulls them into the body of the paragraph. At a minimum, a topic sentence should inform a reader about what they will learn in that paragraph.

Step 2: Keep sentences simple and concise

Writing simple sentences makes the content easy to digest. Use some variation in sentence length to keep the text interesting, but avoid overly complex sentences.

Step 3: Use transition words

A text that flows well between sentences and paragraphs guides a reader through the text. 

Transition words are an excellent way to support the flow and readability of text.

Consider incorporating these examples of transition words and phrases:

• Additionally
• For instance
• However
• Therefore

If the text is disconnected or choppy, a reader may decide not to finish the piece. However, if the text flows smoothly, the reader may naturally read the entire piece.

Step 4: Split up large blocks of text

Large blocks of text are difficult to scan.

Content with long paragraphs may indicate to readers that the text is difficult to understand. Not to mention that it’s hard to find information quickly in a large block of text. 

This is particularly true for readers on mobile devices, where paragraphs can seem much larger. 

Do you have paragraphs that are considerably longer than 5 sentences? 

1. Check that the paragraph only addresses one main idea. 
2. If it’s covering multiple ideas, split it into smaller sections for better readability.

Step 5: Revise for clarity

After writing, go through the text again and check for the points above. 

Incorporate a grammar checker while editing to review awkward phrasing, spelling, or grammatical errors. 

Then, use a readability checker as a second set of eyes on your content during revisions.

Some things to watch for when editing paragraphs for readability:

• Adjust long sentences or paragraphs by splitting them into smaller pieces. 
• Use synonyms to simplify complex vocabulary.
• Avoid jargon whenever possible.

Final Thoughts: Paragraphs are Essential to Readability

As the foundational formatting component of writing, paragraphs have a strong impact on the overall readability of a piece. 

It is important to keep paragraphs short, concise, and well-organized for easy reading. 

Always consider your target audience’s reading experience at the forefront when writing online content. 

Then, incorporate the Originality.ai Readability Checker into your editorial workflow to conveniently highlight paragraphs with difficult readability that could benefit from further editing.

Learn more about readability in our top guides:

• What Is Reading Comprehension?
• 5 Benefits of Readability Tools
• Readability for Marketers — Your Complete Guide
• Hemingway Editor Plus Review