Rule 4.1: Write short and clear sentences

What a checker looks for

A clear deviation from the rule.

• Flag long, convoluted sentences that pack multiple sequential actions or unrelated clauses together instead of being broken into short, direct steps or single-topic sentences.
• In descriptive text, flag any sentence that contains more than one topic, subject, or idea.
• In procedures, flag descriptive-style or indirect phrasing used instead of a direct imperative instruction.
• Flag abstract statements that do not tell the reader the required action or specific fact (e.g. a bare requirement or a vague claim of change with no specifics).

What this rule does not cover

• A sequence of short, single-topic sentences that each build on the previous one is the compliant pattern for descriptive text, not a violation.

How to fix it

Split multi-action or multi-topic sentences into a vertical list of imperative steps (procedures) or into separate single-topic sentences that build on each other (descriptive text). Replace abstract statements with concrete instructions or specific facts and values.

Constraints on the fix

• Do not drop any information when splitting a sentence.
• Keep procedural text in imperative form and descriptive text in descriptive form — do not convert between the two writing styles.