If you’re an intelligent reader or simply run a content marketing site and want to attract intelligent readers, knowing about the different types of articles will be worthwhile. The world is a fodder for an infinite source of topics and so the sky literally is the limit when it comes to finding new sources to read either for information or entertainment.
Read on for more ideas about the different types of articles and how to differentiate a long article from a short article.
The Difference Between Basic Types of Articles
Long Articles
Long articles usually range from 700 to 3,000 words in length, and the writing style is similar to that for books. Long articles can handle more complex subject areas and are meant for people at the eighth- or tenth-grade reading level. If you know your subject matter well, long articles are best because you are able to present a lot of information on that particular subject area. Because of today’s high exposure to technology and lower levels of literacy among the public, long articles need to be simple and must adjust to the needs of the reader if you want them to communicate successfully.
As a general rule, you should include both a title and one or more subtitles, with the latter being spaced roughly every 500 to 700 words. This takes a bit of preplanning, but it keeps the reader interested in the article until the very end, which of course is your ultimate goal.
Short Articles
Short articles are almost always between 500 and 700 words long, and they are usually written similar to how blogs are written. Short articles focus on only one subject or point and usually contain three- to five-sentence paragraphs that keep the reader’s attention. If you’re used to writing seven to ten sentences in each paragraph, you are better off writing long articles.
Unlike long articles, short articles are best for subject areas that you are not an expert in, and they are always simple in both content and language. Most short articles are written for people that read at a fourth-grade level. Because of this, when you’re writing your short article, picture yourself explaining something to a nine-year-old. If a nine-year-old can understand your short article, you have found the perfect language for it.
In addition, always make your short articles articulate and to the point. Keep the subject matter both simplified and focused, and keep in mind that it should be easy to understand, regardless of who the audience members are. Write in short paragraphs and not long sentences, and consider the article one that has various tidbits of information throughout it.
If you’re writing an article for a newspaper or magazine, it will require a style that is a little different than writing for a blog or website. Most publications and sites, however, will lay out in specific detail all of the information you need to know before you start writing. Because of this, you’ll know before you write the first word which style they want you to use and how many words need to be in the article. Writing both short and long articles is easier the more you do it, and the publication hiring you will make sure everything is clear before you start writing for them.
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