What Is the 4-Sentence Rule in Sentence Mining?

The 4-sentence rule is a context rule for better retention. Keep your target sentence, then keep enough nearby context to understand it naturally without turning one card into a full paragraph study session.

How to apply it

• Sentence 1: lead-in context
• Sentence 2: your target mining sentence
• Sentence 3: immediate follow-up context
• Sentence 4: optional extra line only if meaning is unclear

The goal is balance: enough context for memory, not so much text that reviews become slow.

FAQ

• Do I always need exactly 4 sentences? No. It is a guideline. Use 1-2 lines when the sentence is clear, and more context only when necessary.
• Does more context always improve recall? Not always. Too much context can make cards heavy and reduce daily review consistency.