Final answer:
False. A simple sentence does not have to be less than 10 words long; this is a misconception. Rather, it must contain a single main clause with a subject and predicate and express a complete thought. Sentence length should be determined by the need for clarity and effectiveness in communication.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that a simple sentence must be less than 10 words long is false. A simple sentence is characterized by having a single main clause with a subject and a predicate, capable of standing alone as a complete thought. The length of a simple sentence can vary greatly and is not limited to a specific number of words.
For instance, the sentence 'School-age children and college students were pushed into virtual learning environments in March 2020, with schools closing for unspecified lengths of time.' is a simple sentence because it contains one main clause despite being longer than ten words. Thus, the criterion for a sentence to be considered simple is not its word count, but its clause structure.
As a part of editing for more effective writing, unnecessary words should be omitted to make sentences concise. However, depending on the context, shorter sentences are not always better. When revising sentence patterns, it's important to keep the purpose of your writing in mind and strike a balance among sentence lengths and types.