Coffee With Cole: The Digital Writing Podcast

Episode: 8 Tiny But Powerful Tips To Write Better Sentences
Host: Nicolas Cole
Date: January 20, 2026

Episode Overview

In this episode, Nicolas Cole delivers a rapid-fire solo session packed with eight precise tips for crafting better sentences—rooted in his extensive experience as an author, ghostwriter, and coach for tens of thousands of writers. With trademark nerdy passion (yes, he really does read the thesaurus at breakfast), Cole breaks down actionable strategies that separate professional-level writing from the rest. This episode is extremely practical, taking listeners from common sentence pitfalls to more polished, engaging writing in just a few minutes.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Make the Last Word the Most Impactful

[00:37]

• The end of a sentence is where a reader’s attention peaks, so place the most powerful or meaningful word last.
• Weak endings: Avoid dropping off with “is,” “it,” or similar insignificant words.
• Example:
  • Bad: “Do you know the name of who the president is?”
  • Improved: “Do you know the name of the president?”
• Quote:

  “By making the last word in the sentence the most important word of the sentence, it immediately reads like a stronger sentence.” – Cole [01:16]

2. Use Contractions Only After Defining Them

[01:23]

• When introducing an acronym or shorthand (like LTV), spell it out the first time, then put the contraction in parentheses.
  • First reference: “Lifetime value (LTV)”
  • Subsequent: Use “LTV” freely.
• Using contractions too soon restricts your audience to insiders; defining them broadens accessibility.
• Quote:

  “If you use contractions out the gate, that means that only insiders know what you’re saying… to attract larger and larger groups of people, you actually want to do the opposite.” – Cole [02:13]

3. Prioritize Economy of Language

[02:41]

• Write out your full thought, then trim every unnecessary word.
• Aim for clarity, brevity, and grammatical correctness by reordering and reviewing each revision.
• Example Revisions:
  • Original: “Seven ways you can start to make more money your first year out of college by starting to write online.”
  • Improved: “Seven ways to start making money your first year out of college by writing online.”
  • Best: “7 Ways to make money writing online as a new college graduate.”
• Quote:

  “Once you say what you’re trying to say, then it becomes a game of making it more economical.” – Cole [03:30]

4. Avoid Redundancy

[05:39]

• Don’t repeat the same idea or phrase in consecutive sentences or paragraphs; it wastes space and bores readers.
• Example: Cole catches himself repeating for emphasis and then calls it out.
• Quote:

  “If you notice what I just did, I just said the same thing twice. And in writing, this is one of the most inefficient things you could possibly do.” – Cole [05:47]

5. Vary Word Choice to Avoid Repetition

[06:38]

• If you must repeat an idea, use a synonym or vary the vocabulary.
• Example:
  • Weak: “We pulled into the parking lot of the ice arena. I said, it’s been forever since I stepped foot in an ice arena.”
  • Improved: “…since I stepped foot in a rink.”
• Quote:

  “Just by changing the word or changing out the adjective immediately makes it sound different and better.” – Cole [07:01]

6. Limit Obscure Vocabulary

[07:15]

• Use one “little known” or advanced word per sentence or paragraph—never more.
• Too many can alienate a broad audience, reducing readability.
• Example:
  • “With all those weird clothes on, he looked crazy, like he’d lost his mind.”
  • Revised: “…he looked preposterous.”
• Quote:

  “If you go full David Foster Wallace, then the writing becomes unreadable for the vast majority of people—it’s inaccessible.” – Cole [07:45]

7. The Two Comma Rule

[08:09]

• Most sentences should have no more than two commas.
• More than two typically means you’re rambling—unless you intentionally push for a stylistic effect (like a 12-comma sentence for dramatic pacing).
• The “valley of death” is sentences with three to six commas: muddled, unclear, and inefficient.
• Quote:

  “Anything above two means you’re rambling…it means you don’t actually know what you’re trying to say or how to separate the thoughts.” – Cole [08:42]

8. Hemingway’s Adverb Rule

[09:05]

• Remove adverbs whenever possible; they usually add fluff instead of value.
• The writing becomes cleaner and more powerful without them.
• Quote:

  “Your writing would be much cleaner, more succinct, without adverbs.” – Cole [09:23]

Memorable Moments & Quotes

• Opening wit:

  “I love literature and I do really nerdy things like read the thesaurus every morning with breakfast. I actually do that.” – Cole [00:16]

• Playful self-awareness:

  “If you want to write like a pro, here you go. I didn’t even mean for that to rhyme. I swear.” – Cole [00:26]

Notable Timestamps

• [00:37] Tip #1: Impactful last word
• [01:23] Tip #2: Defining contractions
• [02:41] Tip #3: Economy of language
• [05:39] Tip #4: Don’t repeat yourself
• [06:38] Tip #5: Vary word choice
• [07:15] Tip #6: Limit obscure words
• [08:09] Tip #7: Two comma rule
• [09:05] Tip #8: Drop the adverbs

Episode Tone

Friendly, practical, and encouraging—Cole’s tone is conversational, infused with literary enthusiasm. He combines accessible examples, direct guidance, and a bit of humor, making even advanced writing advice sound doable.

Summary

Cole’s “8 Tiny But Powerful Tips” episode is a masterclass in sentence-level writing improvements. It walks new and experienced writers alike through practical strategies—placing strong words last, defining acronyms, trimming excess, avoiding repetition, using synonyms, choosing accessible vocabulary, limiting commas, and cutting adverbs—all delivered with a teacher’s clarity and a writer’s playfulness.

Whether you’re drafting your first article or looking to level up your prose, these tips form a robust checklist for making every sentence matter.