Writing Effective Sentences

Writing Effective Sentences

What makes a good sentence?

· Length—too long or too short?

· Expresses a single thought?

· Effectively combines phrases and clauses to clearly express an idea?

· Relies on punctuation to clarify meaning and structure?

· Must state one idea grammatically, clearly and concisely?

Elements of a good sentence:

· Contains a subject or compound subject and all of the modifiers

· Contains a predicate and all of its modifiers

· Expresses a complete idea

· Is made of up a series of clauses and phrases joined together with punctuation to express a complete idea

Phrases:

Noun phrase: a noun and its modifiers called adjectives: a small, frightened, skinny kitten

Verb phrase: a verb and its modifiers called adverbs: ran frantically and weakly

Participial phrase: the –ing or –ed ending of the verb: running frantically and weakly or ran frantically and weakly

Gerund phrase: the present participial of a verb is used as a noun: Running can be great exercise. Writing takes practice

Infinitive phrase: uses the infinitive form of a verb: to run

Prepositional phrase: begins with a preposition: in the beginning, after the party, behind the couch (words that show location

Adverb phrase: begins with an adverb:

Absolute phrase: consists of a noun or pronoun and modifiers, that modify an entire sentence rather than just one word. Can appear any place in the sentence, always set off from rest of sentence by using (,) dash (--) or colon :

Joan’s husband jumped into the car and took off—tires screeching.

Appositive phase: noun or pronoun phrase that renames the noun or pronoun that immediately precedes the noun or pronoun; generally set off in commas because it is not essential to the meaning of the sentence; may come in any place in the sentence

Another comma rule: set of appositives (also called non restrictive elements)

Maya Angelou, the celebrated poet, will speak at UNC next month.

Clauses: a group of word

Dependent clause: a group of words that either lacks a subject

or predicate: because he ran so fast

Independent clause: a group of words that express a complete thought that contains both a subject and a predicate: he ran so fast.

Adjective Clause: modifies nouns and pronoun in any other clause; most adjective clauses begin with relative pronouns: who, whom, which, whose, that, when, where, why

The student who wrote the best poem received the cash prize.

Adverb clause: modifies verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs. They always begin with subordinating conjunctions. Like adverbs, they usually tell when, where, why, how, under what conditions, or to what extent.

After the committee decided who won first prize, they announced the winner’s name to the crowd.

Using a combination of phrases and clauses, writers structure sentences that express a complete thought.

Once writers understand these basic structures, then they understand punctuation, but first there are 4 types of sentences. Writing will show great growth when writers learn to use these 4 types of sentences:

Simple Sentence: consists of one subject (or compound subject) and one predicate (or compound predicate)

Parents must teach their children to eat healthy foods.

Compound Sentence: consists of two independent clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction; independent clauses are separated by a comma (,). (Comma rule #1)

Children must learn to healthy foods, but their parents must them provide them with healthy foods.

Coordinating Conjunctions: but, for, nor, or, so, yet, and

Complex sentence: consists of an independent clause and dependent clause. Often subordinating conjunctions are used to create complex sentences

Because healthy children must eat healthy foods, parents must provide their children with healthy foods.

Subordinating conjunctions: because

Semicolon rule #1: Compound- complex sentence: consists of independent and dependent clauses. Independent clauses are joined by semi-colons (;) and conjunctive adverbs

After the terrorist attack September 11, 2006, Americans began to realize just how vulnerable they are on their homeland; consequently, they have expected the nation’s leaders to keep them safe not only at home, but as they travel world-wide.

Conjunctive adverbs: consequently, however, therefore, thus, since

Semicolon Rule #2: Use to join two independent clauses when a coordinating conjunction is not used. Two ideas in two independent clauses are so closely related that they belong in the same sentence:

9/11showed Americans how vulnerable they really are; 9/11 toughened Americans.

Semicolon Rule #3:Use a (;) to separate items in a list are made up of noun phrases (and others) that contain commas:

Modern science fiction films have created some great inner galactic heroes such as Mr. Spock, with his pointed ears; Luke Skywalker, with his sword of light; and Darth Vader, with his grotesque, live-saving mask.

Good writers also concentrate on writing sentences in active voice:

· sentences that use active verbs rather than Be verbs

· sentences where the subject of the sentence does the action rather than being acted upon

The lion growled at the little boy, which really scared the poor child.

The little boy was growled at by the lion and the little boy was really scared.

Use your Hacker Handbook to look up list subordinating conjunctions and conjunctive adverbs

Sentence patterns and punctuation:

IDC; however, IDC using conjunctive adverbs

DC, IDC when DC clause comes before IDC

IDC, and IDC

Use Grammar check in Spell check to help with sentence structure

Other Sentence Problems

Parallel Structure: elements of sentence are in parallel or equal structure grammatically

Avoid:

shifts in person: (from I to you) or first person to second person

I always proofread my papers before I hand them in because you want to make sure you get an A.

Shifts in tense: unnecessary shifts from present to past tense:

I always proofread my papers before I handed them in because you always want to get A’s.

Dangling modifiers: modifiers must close to the word they modify and relationship between modifier and word must be clear.

Always careful to proofread papers, they must be carefully revised.

Careful subordination

Shift in mood or the intent of the sentence:

· indicative: explanation, used to tell facts, opinions, or questions: Seventy-five percent of the population has not been vaccinated against mumps.

· imperative: used to give orders or advice: Parents must vaccinate their children against the mumps.

· Subjunctive: wishful thinking, hoping, dreaming, or thoughts contrary to fact.

The officers advised against allowing the residents access to their apartment without proper identification. ~~Also alert neighbors to vacation plans~~ They also suggested that residents alert neighbors to their vacation schedules.

Note: These page numbers are for the 5th edition of Writer's Reference: Read Section S in Hacker, p. 81-108.

Prepositions Listed on p. 452

Conjunctions Listed on p. 453

Phrases defined on p. 458