Vary Sentence Structure in Voice Over Scripts
If you want your voice over scripts to sound conversational, vary the sentence structure and length and use conversational tone.
When you use voice over for elearning, do you want it to sound natural and flowing, or do you want it to sound stiff and didactic? A great voice over person can make a good script more engaging, and a great script sound fantastic. However, if the script itself is completely stiff and unnatural, there’s only so much a voice over person can do. The solution is to vary the sentence structure in voice over scripts.
The problem: complex, long sentences
One common problem in writing for voice over is overly complex sentences. Extremely long sentences, especially without pauses for breath, are hard to read aloud. Even sentences that are appropriate and effective for reading online may feel clunky in narration. Content from SMEs often includes sentences which are too long and complex for voice over. You may need to break up or rewrite sentences to make them flow better.
How to rewrite complicated sentences
Original example
For example, take this sentence on reasonable accommodations for disabilities. Try to read it aloud yourself.
Original: “The employer’s obligation under title I is to provide access for an individual applicant to participate in the job application process, and for an individual employee with a disability to perform the essential functions of his/her job, including access to a building, to the work site, to needed equipment, and to all facilities used by employees.”
That wasn’t written for voice over, but it’s not that far off from content I’ve seen in voice over scripts in the past. This sentence is 57 words long. That makes it long enough to be challenging to read aloud. It’s also so long and complicated that it’s hard to understand as a listener.
Step 1: Break it up
The first step I’d take to rewrite this is breaking it up into two sentences after “his/her job.”
Rewrite step 1: The employer’s obligation under title I is to provide access for an individual applicant to participate in the job application process, and for an individual employee with a disability to perform the essential functions of his/her job. This includes access to a building, to the work site, to needed equipment, and to all facilities used by employees.
The first sentence is still 38 words, but just breaking it up is an improvement.
Step 2: Rewrite and restructure
To flow better, I’d rewrite and restructure it further. This is 51 words total, so a little shorter than the original.
Rewrite step 2: Employers are obligated under title I to provide access for individuals to participate in the job application process and for employees with disabilities to perform the essential functions of their jobs. This includes access to a building, to the work site, to needed equipment, and to all facilities used by employees.
Step 3: Rewrite for conversational tone
Of course, this could even be rewritten further to be more conversational. Although this is 53 words total, it’s now four sentences instead of one.
Rewrite step 3: What are your obligations as an employer under title I? First, provide access for everyone to participate in your job application process. Second, support employees with disabilities so they can perform the essential functions of their jobs. This includes access to buildings, work sites, needed equipment, and to all facilities used by employees.
Not Just Simple Sentences
However, you can take it too far. In a discussion on LinkedIn, someone argued that scripts should be rewritten to “short, simple sentences.” You might think that simpler is always better. Too many simple, short sentences can sound choppy and unnatural though.
I can use simple sentences. I use a noun, verb, and object. I do not use dependent clauses. I sound like a robot. This is boring and repetitive.
When I say “simple sentences,” I use that phrase here with linguistic precision. A simple sentence has a single clause; that means no compound or complex sentences. If you use only simple sentences, then you can never use an “if-then” statement. You can’t add more variety, and you can’t sound natural without compound sentences. Being concise doesn’t have to restrict your grammar. A 60-word sentence (especially one without any place to breathe) doesn’t belong in a voice over script, but coordinating conjunctions certainly do.
Vary Sentence Structure and Length
When we talk, we naturally use a variety of sentence structures and lengths. If you want your scripts to sound conversational, use a combination of short and reasonably long sentences. Watch out for sentences that are too long and convoluted, but don’t be afraid to use compound and complex sentences that flow well.
Further Reading
Check out all of my posts on voice over scripts, including a free voice over script review checklist.
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Do you find that most customers would approve of these minor changes if the voice over artist made them? I am always wary of changing a script to make more sense due to not wanting to offend the writer! Thanks for info!
Nearly every course I write also has closed captions, so it would cause problems for me. In fact, I just had to send some work back for re-recording because the voice over artist made some minor edits. I’ve also had voice over artists create grammar errors. If your writing skills are good (ideally good enough that you could easily get work as a copy editor), you could offer alternate takes. If a script is really in need of edits, you’re safer asking about wording before changing. I work with one voice over person who I trust enough to make edits, even when I then have to edit the captions to match.
I think the most important thing for those writing voiceover scripts, is to find a quiet room, and read each of the sentences out loud. How does it flow? How does it sound? I think the problem that most people have is that they read in their minds and never out loud – it sounds so different.
(This is also a good tip if you are planning a presentation – I find reading the sentences out loud is a great way to build your memory muscle and when you have to present for real, the sentences will come to you much more naturally.)
Reading aloud is the #1 tip from my previous series on writing voice over scripts. Even if you do nothing else, that will help you fix most problems with scripts. I agree about presentations as well. Presentations are like any other skill; you need to practice as close to the real situation as possible.
This is the most useful thing I’ve read on V-O scripts for a long, long time. Thank you!
I’m so happy to hear that!