Articles Quote by William Zinsser
“The most important sentence in any article is the first one. If it doesn't induce the reader to proceed to the second sentence, your article is dead. And if the second sentence doesn't induce him to continue to the third sentence, it's equally dead.”
About This Quote
Source Book: On Writing Well, 1976
The first sentence must hook readers; each subsequent sentence must sustain interest, or the piece fails.
In simple terms: Hook readers early and keep them engaged.
Key Takeaway
Craft compelling openings and flow.
Themes
writing
engagement
structure
readership
Mood
instructive
encouraging
Type
educational
practical
When to use this quote
- journalism
- blogging
- academic papers
Key Concepts
narrative flow
attention span
Questions to Reflect On
- What makes your opening irresistible?
- How do you keep momentum?
A Different Perspective
Readers skim; maintaining interest is tough.
![“I wrote an article about the marine landing [in Haiti] right away, but barely mentioned the oil, because my article would come out two months later and I assumed by then, "of course, everybody knows." Nobody knew. There was a news report in the Wall Street Journal, in the petroleum journals, and…” quote by Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/dc5/noam-chomsky-42_articles_i-wrote-an-article-about-the-marine-land_13341.jpg)
