Short intros work miracles when you’re writing a listicle or breaking news. “A giant rubber duck just blocked the Panama Canal” is a perfect five-word hook. No one wants your life story when they’re already late for work. Short intros are the espresso shots of writing.
But go too short and you risk sounding like a robot. If you write, “This article will discuss comma usage,” your reader will mentally check out and start planning dinner. No emotion, no flavor—like eating plain toast. A better short intro: “Commas: they’re tiny, they’re terrifying, and they’ll make your English teacher weep.”
On the flip side, long intros are for deep dives. Scientific papers, memoirs, and restaurant reviews need room to breathe. A 200-word intro for a 1,000-word essay? Totally fine. A 200-word intro for a Reddit post about cats? You monster.
