When Writing Begins to Sound Like Talking, Is It Still Writing?

Strategic Line Breaks That Give Readers Space to Breathe, Yet Keep Them Hooked

With the rise of AI writing tools, commas seem to be appearing everywhere. Recently, while reading online articles, I’ve noticed many media outlets adopting an increasingly conversational style, breaking sentences into shorter, sometimes fragmented pieces. This approach has its advantages, especially in social media and blogging, where a friendly, easily digestible tone is key. But when writing sounds indistinguishable from casual speech, it raises an important question: will we still need to differentiate between “speaking” and “writing” in the near future?

Punctuation: The Compass That Guides Meaning

As a translator and writer, I’ve come to appreciate just how vital punctuation is, particularly in Chinese writing. It’s more than just a way for readers to pause and breathe. Punctuation guides rhythm, clarifies logic, and significantly impacts the professionalism of the text.

Consider this example from a news article (I have to admit that I frowned as I read through the article as the sentence breaks were all over the place):

「美國總統川普，大筆一揮，簽署行政命令，把 H-1B 工作簽證的申請費，從 2000 到 5000 美元不等，調高到 10 萬美元，破新臺幣 300 萬元。」

While the meaning is clear, the excessive commas create a choppy reading experience. Rewriting it as:

「美國總統川普大筆一揮（，）簽署行政命令，把 H-1B 工作簽證的申請費從 2000 到 5000 美元不等調高到 10 萬美元，破新臺幣 300 萬元。」results in much smoother reading.

Adding a comma between 大筆一揮 and 簽署行政命令 brings a narrative tone, as if painting a scene. Omitting it tightens the sentence, making it more structured. However, the comma after 美國總統川普 is unnecessary in either case.

Here’s another example:

「零售巨擘沃爾瑪，21日宣佈，暫停對需要H-1B簽證，才能留在美國工作的求職者，提供工作機會。」

The numerous commas fragment the sentence, forcing readers to pause repeatedly before reaching the main point. A clearer alternative is:

「零售巨擘沃爾瑪21日宣佈，暫停對需要H-1B簽證才能留在美國工作的求職者提供工作機會。」

These examples illustrate how over-segmented sentences, though seemingly clearer at first glance, ultimately impair readability. They exhaust readers and detract from a professional tone.

As AI-generated content grows more prevalent, short-sentence rhythms are becoming normalized, even perceived as more “human.” Language evolves with usage, and that evolution is natural. Yet, it’s crucial that we continue to uphold the quality and depth of good writing.

At times, I wonder if my attention to detail is overly meticulous. But when clients secure better business opportunities through carefully edited texts, or when readers appreciate clearer, more thoughtful writing, I am reminded how much these “small” details truly matter.

While no one can predict exactly how language will evolve, as someone who works with words daily, I hope we never lose our respect and love for them. Writing should strike a balance between clarity and readability. And reading should always be a pleasure, not a challenge.