English paragraphs typically contain more gaps than Swiss cheese. Why? In languages like Chinese, sentences end when an author’s meaning is complete. In contrast, in English, grammar mostly determines when sentences end. As a result, English’s sentence structure naturally introduces gaps between sentences.
And these gaps sow confusion in readers and create the greatest slow-downs in reading speeds of any aspect of writing. On the other hand, when readers recognize simple connections between clauses and sentences, they perform better on comprehension and recall of material, helping them to perform better on standardized tests and to receive higher grades.
Meet continuity, the most important and least-understood aspect of writing you’ve likely never heard of.
Without explicit connections between sentences, readers have difficulty understanding stories, let alone more abstract arguments. Readers spend more time trying to understand sentences that lack a clear relationship to the sentences around them and also encounter difficulty in recalling the meaning of discontinuous sentences. On the other hand, transitions like because, since, and then speed up reading and sharpen recall.
Transitions create bridges between sentences across gaps readers would otherwise struggle to understand. Notice the difference that transitions (in bold in the second example) make to a student’s essay on Jane Eyre:
Before: Mr. Brocklehurst then punishes Jane by making her stand in public, and does not allow anyone to speak to her, and it was Helen’s words that give her the courage and strength to get back on her feet. Miss Temple helped her get rid of the unnecessary “crime.” Jane admired Helen’s broad mind and profound knowledge, and she worked harder to learn. She thought Lowood was better than Mrs. Reed’s.
After: Despite Lowood starving and humiliating the girls, Jane still thinks Lowood is better than Mrs. Reed’s. However, at Lowood, Mr. Brocklehurst punishes Jane by........© Psychology Today