Rhododendrons are beautiful, colorful shrubs.
Between April and the end of June, they bloom exuberantly. By regularly pruning and fertilizing them, you stimulate their growth.
Why this information?
I use the rhododendron(s) today to discuss a language trick, for making your text more straightforward.
The trick is: use the singular more often. Even if you are talking about the plural.
My example sentences above are about rhododendrons. But I can just as well write ‘the rhododendron’. The reader (the readers) will understand very well that it’s about all rhododendrons.
When I use the singular, it’s slightly easier for your brain to picture the topic, and as a result, to process and remember the information.
Especially when that information is about people.
A refugee crossing the Mediterranean from Africa, often does so in a small, overcrowded boat. With this single refugee, you empathize more than with the plural.
And the singular is shorter.
By the way, what is that ‘h’ doing in ‘rhododendron’?
Regards,
Arnaud