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6 - Cadence

Making Sentences Sophisticated and Rhythmic

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 December 2024

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Summary

Even though we read silently, we nevertheless "hear" words on the page. Our brains use both visual and phonological loops for processing sentences, enabling us to perceive the rhythm of sentences. We primarily perceive the cadence of sentences through variations in sentences’ lengths and beginnings. Moreover, this rhythm reflects not the writer’s education or skill with words but, instead, the sources that writers read frequently. Because of this influence, writers can shift the cadence of their sentences by choosing their reading carefully, or even choosing to read books or articles that counter their usual cadence.

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Writing for the Reader's Brain
A Science-Based Guide
, pp. 176 - 200
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2024

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  • Cadence
  • Yellowlees Douglas
  • Book: Writing for the Reader's Brain
  • Online publication: 12 December 2024
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009221818.006
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  • Cadence
  • Yellowlees Douglas
  • Book: Writing for the Reader's Brain
  • Online publication: 12 December 2024
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009221818.006
Available formats
×

Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

  • Cadence
  • Yellowlees Douglas
  • Book: Writing for the Reader's Brain
  • Online publication: 12 December 2024
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009221818.006
Available formats
×