Delete the first sentence: why many posts work fine starting at sentence two

On LinkedIn, a long post shows only its first few lines in the feed, and the rest is folded away out of sight. Whether someone keeps reading is usually decided in those few lines.

That's why one piece of advice comes up a lot in conversations about writing: once a post is done, delete the first sentence and read the post again. Many posts, people say, work just as well starting from sentence two.

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When the first sentence is only a lead-in

• The first sentence restates the topic. "Today I want to talk about…" says again what the title or the previous post already said.
• The first sentence explains the background first. The writer needed it, but the reader often doesn't need it yet.
• The first sentence hedges. "Everyone's different, but…" takes a step back before saying anything.

All three come naturally while you write, because they're how you think your way in. But if they're still there when the post is done, the most visible spot in the feed goes to a sentence the post doesn't depend on.

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Delete it and reread

The method is simple. When the post is finished, delete the first sentence and read from the top. If it still makes sense, leave it deleted. If the second sentence now feels abrupt, adjust it a little so it can open the post.

The post gets shorter, and the first line gets closer to the main message. It doesn't work every time, but checking takes a few seconds.

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First sentences worth keeping

Some first sentences change the meaning when they go. A sentence that gives the reader a premise they don't have, or says who the post is for, is part of the main message, so it stays. Deleting helps you tell those sentences from lead-ins.

What's the last thing you do before you publish a post?