A chara, - I refer to the comments of the chief examiner on students' English (The Irish Times, April 24th). We should defend short sentences. Academics do not like them. But many academics do not write clearly. Long sentences are more confusing. They can occur because of ineptitude. Sometimes they occur because the writer has nothing to say. Someone once said: "I apologise for the long letter but I did not have time to write a short one." The same principle should apply to sentences. - Is mise,
JACK GANNON, Ratoath Estate, Cabra, Dublin 7.
