Professional Documents
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Contents
Success in Writing Sentences.......................................................................... 4 Effective Use of Short Sentences................................................................ 6 Effective Arrangement of Words ................................................................... 8 Emphasis and Force in Sentences ............................................................... 11 Importance of the Opening Sentence ........................................................ 13 Effective conciseness of expression; avoid wordiness................... 13 Variety in Sentence Structure ...................................................................... 16 How to Avoid Careless and Awkward Repetition ................................ 19 Avoid Redundant Repetition of That .......................................................... 23 Effective Use of Repetition ............................................................................. 24 Effective Balance of Constructions ......................................................... 27 Effective Starts and Stops ............................................................................ 28 How to Create Climax in Your Sentences................................................ 34 Effectiveness of Active Voice ........................................................................ 36 Specific Vs. General Style .............................................................................. 37 Using Definite, Direct Statements .............................................................. 39
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A sentence must have a subject and a predicate. In the example, the subject is, "The circulation of The New York Times"; the predicate is "exceeds 950,000 copies." Failure to decide in your mind precisely what you want to say, or failure to determine how you want to say it, results in sentences that convey blurred and weak thoughts. You can improve your ability to write effective sentences by studying and reviewing the important principles of sentence structure in this e-book. Follow our advice and review our many examples. By the time you have finished our e-book, you will notice an immediate improvement in how you construct, review and revise sentences.
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Ordinary: In order that this result may be accomplished, a number of matters will have to be adjusted. These include arranging a peace, solving economic problems, and settling differences with European countries. In fact, we have to re-establish ourselves in the reconstructed world. Emphatic: In order that this result may be accomplished, a number of matters will have to be adjusted. We have a peace to arrange. We have economic problems to solve. We have differences with European countries to settle. In fact, we have to re-establish ourselves in the reconstructed world. Emphatic and Concise: To accomplish this result, we must adjust some matters: we have to arrange a peace, to solve economic problems, and to settle differences with European countries. In fact, we have to re-establish ourselves in the reconstructed world. Emphatic: To this great conflict for human rights and human liberty America has committed herself. There can be no backward step. There must be either humiliating and degrading submission or terrible defeat or glorious victory. It was no human will that brought us to this pass. It was not the President. It was not Congress. It was not the press. It was not any political party. It was not any section or part of our people.
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Emphatic and Concise: To this great conflict for human rights and human liberty America has committed herself. We cannot step backwards. We must have either terrible defeat or glorious victory. No American brought us to this crisis--not the President, not Congress, not the Press. It was not any political party, nor any class of people. We need to avoid the habitual use of short sentences otherwise we will write in a jerky, disconnected style. As a general rule, use short sentences to emphasize special passages.
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Short sentences, like short words, are much more easily understood. The short sentence lends itself naturally to simplicity of treatment, if properly handled; but a series of short sentences, unrelieved by an occasional longer one, produces an effect of jerkiness. A succession of long sentences, on the other hand, produces a heaviness and formality that feels out of place in writing. The best effect is judiciously mixing the two. One important point in writing any sentencearrange the parts so that the bearing of one part to another will be clearly understood by your readers.
The good sentence has three qualities: unity, coherence, and emphasis. In a broader sense, these three qualities also apply to the paragraph structure and the document as a whole. A sentence, to be unified, must have one central idea. Two ideas in one sentence are disastrous. To produce unity in your sentences, follow these tips: (1) Your sentence must have a main idea; exclude all details not bearing on that idea.
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(2) Make each sentence short enough to help the reader understand it as one idea, but long enough form a definite thought of the paragraph. A sentence is a unit in thought when we make one complete statement; when we change the subject of a thought, a new sentence becomes necessary. Coherence in a sentence means simply "consecutiveness." We need to place words in logical sequencein "one-two-three" order. We do not want to force the reader to go back to see how the various parts hang together. The following suggestions will assist you in writing coherent sentences: 1. The sentence must stand for one central idea. Be careful to say one thing at a time. 2. Do not join in one sentence two or more statements that are parts of the same idea.
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3. Avoid long, rambling sentences. Do not burden sentences with details. An attempt to say too much in a sentence leads to confusion. 4. Be cautious about appending a phrase or a clause to a sentence as if by afterthought. 5. Use connectives carefully and sparingly. 6. Every word of reference should point with absolute accuracy to the word or expression to which it refers.
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paragraph, or the whole document are the beginning and the end. The end is probably the most important as a point of emphasis. The lack of emphasis in a sentence is usually caused by "wordiness." It is a safe rule to strike out all words that do not add to the meaning. The ending of a sentence often falls weak because the writer fails to observe the law of climaxwhich states that a reader's interest should grow as the writing or story progresses. To further hold a reader's interest, you can use a literary device called "force." Force in writing is the quality that holds the attention of the reader. Force is the appeal that words make to the feeling; clearness is the appeal they make to the understanding. Force is obtained by: 1. using expressive words; 2. placing the words in emphatic positions in the sentence; 3. varying the length of sentences; 4. keeping persistently to one idea"sticking to the text."
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concise if we cannot adequately express it in fewer words. We may think a sentence of ten words in length is wordy if we can condense it to five words. Wordy: There is a considerable amount of time needed for doing the work in an adequate manner. Concise: To do the work adequately will require considerable time. More Concise: I need more time to do the work adequately. Wordy: These difficulties can all be avoided, or at least a large percentage of them can be. Concise: Most of these difficulties can be avoided. More Concise: I can avoid most of these difficulties.
Wordy: There is only one part of the machine that needs to be oiled daily and that is the back rod, which is sometimes called the carriage rod.
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Concise: The only part of the machine that needs to be oiled daily is the back rod, sometimes called the carriage rod. More Concise: The only part of the machine that I need to oil daily is the back rod (sometimes called the carriage rod). To write concisely, try to reduce a main clause to a subordinate clause, a subordinate clause to a phrase, and a phrase to a single word. Wordy: One feature which this machine has and which makes it particularly desirable is that it is economical of fuel. Concise: One particularly desirable feature of this machine is that it is economical of fuel. (We reduce one clause to a single adjective and an adverb; another to a phrase.) More Concise: A desirable feature of this machine is its efficiency of fuel. Wordy: If you ask him a few questions which are pertinent to what he is telling you, all that you have to do is to sit back and listen.
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Concise: If you ask him a few pertinent questions, you have only to sit back and listen. (Two clauses reduced to a single word; another reduced to a phrase.) More Concise: If you ask him a few important questions, just sit back and listen.
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(c) Avoid a series of sentences, each containing a main clause followed by a relative clause. Awkward: The tendency at present is to move the iron and steel mills from inland towns to lake points, such as Cleveland, Chicago, and Ohio. This is due to the economy that results from having the blast furnace close to the ore dock where the steamer unloads. This was an important factor in causing the United States Steel Corporation to locate to Ohio. This plant is the largest and most complete in the world for the manufacture of steel. (Each sentence begins with the subject, and the last three begin with the same word.) Improved: At present, the tendency is to move the iron and steel mills from inland towns to lake points, such as Cleveland, Chicago, and Ohio. In these cities the blast furnace can be placed close to the ore dock where the steamer unloads, and as a result the ore can be handled more economically. It was this important factor that caused the United States Steel Corporation to locate to Ohio, where it has erected the largest and most complete plant in the world for the manufacture of steel. Improved and Concise: At present, we must move the iron and steel mills from inland towns to lake points, such as Cleveland, Chicago,
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and Ohio. In these cities we can place the blast furnace close to the ore dock where the steamer unloads. We can then handle the ore more economically. This important factor caused the United States Steel Corporation to locate to Ohio, where it has erected the world's largest and most complete plant to manufacture steel. Awkward: The basement is of cement and it extends under the entire house. A furnace of modern design is located at one end and is arranged so that it can be regulated from the living-room upstairs. The laundry-room occupies the entire south half of the basement and it is light and sanitary. (" See-saw" sentences; and in addition, each begins with the subject.) Improved: The basement, which is of cement, extends under the entire house. At one end is a furnace of modern design, so arranged that it can be regulated from the living-room upstairs. A light, sanitary laundry-room occupies the entire south half of the basement. Improved and Concise: The basement, made of cement, extends under the entire house. A modern furnace at one end can be regulated from the living room upstairs. A light, sanitary laundryroom occupies the entire south half of the basement.
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Awkward: The boards are then passed on to the different cutters who cut them into certain lengths. One set of workers cuts boards for the sides and tops, while another cuts the end boards. Improved: The boards are then passed on to different cutters who saw them into certain lengths. The pieces for the sides and tops are cut by one set of workers; those for the ends by another group. Improved and Concise: The foreman passes the boards to the cutters who saw them into certain lengths. One group cuts the pieces for the sides and tops, and a second group cuts the ends. Awkward: The boiler used for making the steam is the chief factor in making the steam car a success. Improved: The boiler is the main factor in making the steam car a success. Awkward: Each number is repeated eight times to enable the librarian to get used to finding it quickly. Improved: Each number is repeated eight times in order that the librarian may become accustomed to finding it quickly.
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Improved and Concise: Repeat each number eight times so that the librarian becomes accustomed to finding it quickly. Awkward: Many students are without text books this year because of the lack of foresight of the present shortage in paper. Improved: Many of the students are without text books this year because they did not foresee the shortage in paper. Improved and Concise: Many students do not have text books this year because they did not foresee the paper shortage.
Tip 2: Do not use a word in two different senses in the same sentence. Awkward: In those early days, sulphuric acid was but a curiosity, but today industrial chemistry could not exist if the supply of this acid were stopped. Improved: In those early days, sulphuric acid was only a curiosity, but today industrial chemistry could not exist if the supply of this acid were stopped.
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Improved and Concise: In ancient times, sulphuric acid was only a curiosity, but today industrial chemistry could not exist if we stopped producing this acid.
Tip 3: Tandem Clauses. As a general rule, do not use two successive clauses introduced by the same connective, unless they both refer to the same word. Awkward: Between the walls is a two-inch space which is packed with granulated cork, which is the most effective non-conductor of heat yet discovered. Improved: Between the walls is a two-inch space packed with granulated cork, which is the most effective non-conductor of heat yet discovered. Awkward: The upper floors of the building were completely destroyed, for the firemen were unable to reach the flames, for the water-pressure was too weak. Improved: The upper floors of the building were completely destroyed, for the water-pressure was so weak that the firemen were unable to reach the flames.
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Improved and Concise: The firemen were unable to reach the flames because of weak water-pressure, causing the fire to destroy the upper floors of the building.
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Better: We have decided to postpone construction because we believe the cost of labor and materials will drop within a few months.
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You can add emphasis and clearness by repeating the same form of constructionnoun clause, adverbial clause, infinitive phrase, prepositional phrase, and the likeintroduced by the same connective. Use this device only when your sentence has parallel expressions are parallel: that is, when they perform the same function in the sentence. Right: If you believe that honesty and hard work are needed in city government, if you believe that faithful service to the public should be rewarded, you should work for the re-election of this candidate. Right and Concise: If you believe the city government needs honesty and hard work, if you believe the public should reward you for faithful service, then you should work to re-elect this candidate. Right: Any sort of restraint, whether by military force, by legislation, or by public opinion, is obnoxious to this group of radicals. Right: Based on the objectives of scientists, they need to determine the constituents of which the material world is composed, to reduce these constituents to their simplest forms, and to build up new chemical compounds from them.
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Right and Concise: The scientists' objectives are to determine what elements compose our world, to reduce these elements to their simplest forms, and to create new chemical compounds from them. In these cases we should repeat the connective wherever the repetition will make the statement clearer or more emphatic. Not Clear: The courses are intended for students who have had experience in the banking business and also those in other kinds of work who wish to get a better knowledge of the Federal Reserve System. Improved: The courses are intended for students who have had experience in the banking business and also for those who wish to get a better knowledge of the Federal Reserve System. Improved and Concise: The courses are for students who have prior experience in the banking business and also for students who want to learn more about the Federal Reserve System. Not Clear: The auditor said that the cashier is under suspicion, and there can be no doubt as to his guilt. (Does the writer or the auditor say that the cashier is guilty?)
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Improved: The auditor said that the cashier is under suspicion and that there can be no doubt as to his guilt. Improved and Concise: The auditor said that the cashier, who is under suspicion, is guilty.
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BalancedEmphatic: New York builds subways; Chicago talks about building them. Not Balanced: These goods are of excellent quality, and a low price has been put on them. BalancedMore Emphatic: The quality of these goods is excellent, and the price is low. (Or) BalancedMore Emphatic: These goods are excellent in quality and low in price.
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possible. He places important statements at the beginning or end to add attention and emphasis. In some cases you should use the beginning for making a smooth transition from the preceding sentence; you cannot always reserve the beginning for emphatic statements. In general, the end is more significant than the beginning, especially for emphasis. Feeble Ending Never end a sentence with a weak, straggling phrase or subordinate clause. This caution does not apply to a phrase or clause which makes a definite contribution to the thought. It refers to those expressions which contain a weak and hesitating modification of the main idea, or give the impression of being an after-thought. We should avoid these expressions within the sentence, or if this is impractical we can place them at the beginning. Weak: Our future prosperity depends upon the co-operation of capital and labor, to a large extent. More Emphatic: Our future prosperity, to a large extent, depends on the co-operation of capital and labor.
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Weak: An excess of magnesia in the cement will cause it to expand and crack in time. More Emphatic: An excess of magnesia in the cement will, in time, cause it to expand and crack. Weak: This device is adapted for use only with plate cameras having removable holders, for reasons which will be explained later. More Emphatic: For reasons which will be explained later, this device is adapted for use only with plate cameras having removable holders. Emphatic and Concise: For reasons I will explain later, we can use only this device with plate cameras having removable holders. A Preposition at the End of a Sentence As a general rule, a preposition makes a weak ending for a sentence. Weak: The parlor, a medium-sized room, artistically decorated, makes a very attractive place to entertain your guests in.
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More Emphatic: The parlor, a medium-sized room and artistically decorated, makes a very attractive place in which to entertain your guests. Emphatic and Concise: The parlor, a medium-sized room and artistically decorated, makes an attractive place to entertain guests. In some cases, a preposition may properly stand at the end of a sentence. This is especially true in certain questions that lose their effectiveness if you use another construction. Emphatic: Where did you come from? ("From where did you come?" would be much less effective.) Emphatic: What did you do that for? (More emphatic than "Why did you do that?") Certain sentences (see below) are also allowed in speaking and some informal types of writing. Allowable: This is the article that you were talking about. Allowable: He is the man that you asked for.
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The Periodic Sentence For special emphasis, you can place the main thought at the end of the sentence. This type of construction produces what is known as the periodic sentence. Not Periodic: Four members sprang to their feet as soon as the chairman finished his remarks. PeriodicMore Emphatic: As soon as the chairman finished his remarks, four members sprang to their feet. In practice, not all sentences, or even the majority of them, are made periodic. The constant use of this type would produce a stiff and monotonous style; but when employed judiciously, it is a valuable aid to emphasis. NoteStrictly speaking, a periodic sentence is one in which the grammatical construction is not complete until the end of the sentence is reached. For practical purposes, we can regard a periodic sentence when we place a main clause last.
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Transposed Elements We can emphasize a word by transposing it giving it a position different from its normal one. This is especially true of direct objects (words or clauses), predicate adjectives, and adverbs placed at the beginning of the sentence. Direct objects and predicate adjectives normally follow the verb; adverbs either precede or follow the verb. When we place them at the beginning of the sentence, the unusualness of the position serves to attract the reader's attention to them. Normal: Although he was tired, he refused to rest. More Emphatic: Tired as he was, he refused to rest. Normal: We are always willing to help the poor. More Emphatic: The poor...we are always willing to help. Normal: He is willing to admit that he has failed. More Emphatic: "I have failed," he admitted. Normal: The procession moved slowly through the crowded street.
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More Emphatic: Slowly the procession moved through the crowded street.
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The Shorter Element before a Longer One in a Series As a general rule, the shorter member of a series should precede the longer member. In this way we secure one form of climactic arrangement. Awkward: The book is beautifully illustrated in colors and interesting. Improved: The book is interesting and beautifully illustrated in colors. A Negative Statement Before a Contrasted Affirmative One In many cases, placing a negative statement before an affirmative contrasted statement makes a more emphatic sentence. Less Emphatic: He failed because he was over confident, not because he was over trained. More Emphatic: He failed, not because he was over trained, but because he was over confident.
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Less Emphatic: His actions were guided by a desire for power, not by love of humanity. More Emphatic: His actions were guided, not by love of humanity, but by a desire for power.
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Improved: The committee has worked faithfully and has passed a number of reforms.
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SpecificMore Effective: By means of international production you can become familiar with the process of manufacturing steel rails in Pittsburgh, silk in Japan, and laces in France. General: Everybody uses this car. SpecificMore Effective: Everybody uses this carbankers, lawyers, students, parents, mechanics, United States Senators. General: All these companies made huge profits during the economy and disbursed relatively little in dividends. Specific Example Added: During the 2010 recession, all these companies made huge profits, and disbursed little in dividends. For example, the Corolla Steel Co. earned $179.96 a share on the common stock, and paid out only $22.00 a share in dividends.
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Improved: Here the student will get instruction which will be of benefit to him in his daily work. Improved, Specific and Concise: The new school will provide the student with advanced English lessons which will benefit him in his daily work.
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