Have you ever considered the rhythm of your writing? The metre, the pattern of the stresses? If not, then you should. The right cadence will help you make a lasting impression.
It’s long been known that rhythm in writing makes it more readable. Rhythm can bring your copy to life and give it a personal touch.
This article looks at why rhythm works in copy, and how you can use it effectively…
Music provides the foundation for language acquisition
Rhythm is embedded in normal speech patterns – language is more sing-song than you might realise. Think about the accents you like, maybe Geordie or Irish for example; they’re very musical patterns of speech.
How does this benefit a writer? Well, there’s evidence to suggest that rhythm not only creates a connection with your readers, but it can make your copy more memorable.
Boffins have long theorised about the interwoven evolution of language and music. There’s a strong theory that music came first, then language followed. A key takeaway from that article is, “music developed first and provides the foundation … for language acquisition“.
Your Brain Remembers Rhythmic Patterns
For something a bit less theoretical, we can look at Mnemonics. Those catchy little phrases we use to remember words or sequences work on multiple levels.
Our memory works well with associations, visualisations and, importantly for us, audible patterns. For example, let’s look at two mnemonics:
Richard Of York Gave Battle In Vain
(Red Orange Yellow Green Blue Indigo Violet)
The colours of the Rainbow. This has a very clear and common rhythmic pattern. You can hear it in ‘The Beautiful People‘, by Marilyn Manson.
Rhythm Helps Your Two Hips Move
(RHYTHM)
Meta, right? Again the pattern should clear . Maybe you can pair this rhythmic mnemonic with a song?
Rhythm Will Make Your Copy More Memorable
Rhythm will not only make your writing easier to read, it will also help it stick in your readers minds.
- There’s a solid and well-established theory – Music provides the foundation for language acquisition
- There’s also demonstrable evidence – Your brain remembers rhythmic patterns
How To Use Rhythm To Create Memorable Copy
You’ve seen the evidence above, but how can you use this in your copy? Well, there’s a really easy trick you can use:
Read your copy out loud to see if it sounds human. If it does, it probably has a natural rhythm.
If it doesn’t sound human, then go back through it. Try rewriting a paragraph or two, or maybe a heading. Remember to read out loud, every time you rewrite. Focus on how it sounds, does it have a natural rhythm? Pay attention to what we’ve discussed above.
You know what you’re looking for now, it will be easier to spot.
Don’t Force Rhythm at the Expense of Content
A word of caution – Don’t force it! You risk drawing your reader’s focus to the cadence, rather than the content.