Sometimes writers have a tendency to reuse the same sentence pattern throughout their writing. Like any repetitive task, reading text that contains too many sentences with the same length and structure can become monotonous and boring. Experienced writers mix it up by using an assortment of sentence patterns, rhythms, and lengths.<\/p>\r\n
This chapte discusses how to introduce sentence variety into writing, how to open sentences using a variety of techniques, and how to use different types of sentence structure when connecting ideas. You can use these techniques when revising a paper to bring life and rhythm to your work. They will also make reading your work more enjoyable.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Experienced writers incorporate sentence variety<\/a><\/span> into their writing by varying sentence style and structure. Using a mixture of different sentence structures reduces repetition and adds emphasis to important points in the text. Read the following example:<\/p>\r\n\r\n In this extract from an election campaign, the writer uses short, simple sentences of a similar length and style. Writers often mistakenly believe that this technique makes the text more clear for the reader, but the result is a choppy, unsophisticated paragraph that does not grab the audience\u2019s attention. Now read the revised paragraph with sentence variety:<\/p>\r\n\r\n Notice how introducing a short rhetorical question among the longer sentences in the paragraph is an effective means of keeping the reader\u2019s attention. In the revised version, the writer combines the choppy sentences at the beginning into one longer sentence, which adds rhythm and interest to the paragraph.<\/p>\r\n\r\n Exercise<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/header>\r\n Combine each set of simple sentences into a compound or a complex sentence. Write the combined sentence on your own sheet of paper.<\/p>\r\n\r\n Collaboration<\/strong><\/p>\r\n Please share with a classmate and compare your answers.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n Read the following sentences and consider what they all have in common:<\/p>\r\n\r\n John and Amanda will be analyzing this week\u2019s financial report.<\/p>\r\n The car screeched to a halt just a few inches away from the young child.<\/p>\r\n Students should study to ensure they come to the exam adequately prepared.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n If you are having trouble figuring out why these sentences are similar, try underlining the subject in each. You will notice that the subject is positioned at the beginning of each sentence\u2014John and Amanda<\/em>, the car<\/em>, students<\/em>. Since the subject-verb-object pattern is the simplest sentence structure, many writers tend to overuse this technique, which can result in repetitive paragraphs with little sentence variety.<\/p>\r\n This paragraph is an excerpt from an essay about the American government bailout of banks in 2008. Read this excerpt from Naomi\u2019s essay:<\/p>\r\n\r\n This section examines several ways to introduce sentence variety at the beginning of sentences, using Naomi\u2019s essay as an example.<\/p>\r\n\r\n One technique you can use so as to avoid beginning a sentence with the subject is to use an adverb. An adverb<\/a><\/span> is a word that describes a verb, adjective, or other adverb and often ends in -ly<\/em>. Examples of adverbs include quickly<\/em>, softly<\/em>, quietly<\/em>, angrily<\/em>, and timidly<\/em>. Read the following sentences:<\/p>\r\n\r\n She slowly turned the corner and peered into the murky basement.<\/p>\r\n Slowly, she turned the corner and peered into the murky basement.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n In the second sentence, the adverb slowly<\/em> is placed at the beginning of the sentence. If you read the two sentences aloud, you will notice that moving the adverb changes the rhythm of the sentence and slightly alters its meaning. The second sentence emphasizes how the subject moves\u2014slowly\u2014creating a buildup of tension. This technique is effective in fictional writing.<\/p>\r\n Note that an adverb used at the beginning of a sentence is usually followed by a comma. A comma indicates that the reader should pause briefly, which creates a useful rhetorical device. Read the following sentences aloud and consider the effect of pausing after the adverb:<\/p>\r\n\r\n Cautiously, he unlocked the kennel and waited for the dog\u2019s reaction.<\/p>\r\n Eagerly, she raced down the steps to hug her mom.<\/p>\r\n Suddenly, he slammed the door shut and sprinted across the street.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n In an academic essay, moving an adverb to the beginning of a sentence serves to vary the rhythm of a paragraph and increase sentence variety.<\/p>\r\n\r\n This paragraph has two adverbs that could be moved to the beginning of their respective sentences. Notice how the following revised version creates a more varied paragraph:<\/p>\r\n\r\n Exercise<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/header>\r\n On your own sheet of paper, rewrite the following sentences by moving the adverbs to the beginning. Once complete, please share with a classmate and compare your answers.<\/p>\r\n\r\n A prepositional phrase<\/a><\/span> is a group of words that behaves as an adjective or an adverb, modifying a noun or a verb. Prepositional phrases contain a preposition<\/a><\/span> (a word that specifies place, direction, or time) and an object of the preposition<\/a><\/span> (a noun phrase or pronoun that follows the preposition).<\/p>\r\n\r\n Read the following sentence:<\/p>\r\n\r\n In this sentence, the prepositional phrase is underneath the table.<\/em> The preposition underneath<\/em> relates to the object that follows the preposition\u2014the table<\/em>. Adjectives may be placed between the preposition and the object in a prepositional phrase.<\/p>\r\n\r\n Some prepositional phrases can be moved to the beginning of a sentence in order to create variety in a piece of writing. Look at the following revised sentence:<\/p>\r\n\r\n Notice that when the prepositional phrase is moved to the beginning of the sentence, the emphasis shifts from the subject\u2014the terrified cat\u2014to the location in which the cat is hiding. Words that are placed at the beginning or end of a sentence generally receive the greatest emphasis. Take a look at the following examples. The prepositional phrase is bolded in each:<\/p>\r\n\r\n The bandaged man waited in the doctor\u2019s office<\/strong>.<\/p>\r\n In the doctor\u2019s office<\/strong>, the bandaged man waited.<\/p>\r\n My train leaves the station at 6:45 a.m<\/strong>.<\/p>\r\n At 6:45 a.m.<\/strong>, my train leaves the station.<\/p>\r\n Teenagers hangout under the railway bridge<\/strong>.<\/p>\r\n Under the railway bridge<\/strong>, teenagers hangout.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n Prepositional phrases are useful in any type of writing. Take another look at the paragraph on the government bailout.<\/p>\r\n\r\n Now read the revised version.<\/p>\r\n\r\n The underlined words are all prepositional phrases. Notice how they add additional information to the text and provide a sense of flow to the essay, making it less choppy and more pleasurable to read.<\/p>\r\n\r\n Not all prepositional phrases can be placed at the beginning of a sentence. Read the following sentence:<\/p>\r\n\r\n In this sentence, without whipped cream<\/em> is the prepositional phrase. Because it describes the chocolate sundae, it cannot be moved to the beginning of the sentence. \u201cWithout whipped cream I would like a chocolate sundae\u201d does not make as much (if any) sense. To determine whether a prepositional phrase can be moved, we must determine the meaning of the sentence.<\/p>\r\n\r\n Experienced writers often include more than one prepositional phrase in a sentence; however, it is important not to overload your writing. Using too many modifiers in a paragraph may create an unintentionally comical effect as the following example shows:<\/p>\r\n\r\n A sentence is not necessarily effective just because it is long and complex. If your sentence appears cluttered with prepositional phrases, divide it into two shorter sentences. The previous sentence is far more effective when written as two simpler sentences:<\/p>\r\n\r\n As we noted earlier, most writers follow the subject-verb-object sentence structure. In an inverted sentence<\/a><\/span>, the order is reversed so that the subject follows the verb. Read the following sentence pairs:<\/p>\r\n\r\n Notice how the second sentence in each pair places more emphasis on the subject\u2014a truck<\/em> in the first example and the file<\/em> in the second. This technique is useful for drawing the reader\u2019s attention to your primary area of focus. We can apply this method to an academic essay. Take another look the paragraph.<\/p>\r\n\r\n To emphasize the subject in certain sentences, we can invert the traditional sentence structure. Read this revised paragraph:<\/p>\r\n\r\n Notice that in the first underlined sentence, the subject (some economists<\/em>) is placed after the verb (argued<\/em>). In the second underlined sentence, the subject (the government<\/em>) is placed after the verb (expects<\/em>).<\/p>\r\n\r\n Exercise<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/header>\r\n On your own sheet of paper, rewrite the following sentences as inverted sentences. Once complete, please share with a classmate and compare your answers.<\/p>\r\n\r\n Reviewing and rewriting the beginning of sentences is a good way of introducing sentence variety into your writing. Another useful technique is to connect two sentences using a modifier, a relative clause, or an appositive. This section examines how to connect ideas across several sentences in order to increase sentence variety and improve writing.<\/p>\r\n\r\n Sometimes it is possible to combine two sentences by converting one of them into a modifier using the -ing<\/em> verb form\u2014singing<\/em>, dancing<\/em>, swimming<\/em>. A modifier<\/a><\/span> is a word or phrase that qualifies the meaning of another element in the sentence. Read the following example:<\/p>\r\n\r\n Original sentences:<\/strong> Jordan checked the computer system. They discovered a virus.<\/p>\r\n Revised sentence:<\/strong> Checking the computer system, Jordan discovered a virus.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n To connect two sentences using an -ing<\/em> modifier, add -ing<\/em> to one of the verbs in the sentences (checking<\/em>) and delete the subject (Jordan<\/em>). Use a comma to separate the modifier from the subject of the sentence. It is important to make sure that the main idea in your revised sentence is contained in the main clause, not in the modifier. In this example, the main idea is that Jordan discovered a virus, not that they checked the computer system.<\/p>\r\n In the following example, an -ing<\/em> modifier indicates that two actions are occurring at the same time:<\/p>\r\n\r\n Noticing the police car, she shifted gears and slowed down.<\/p>\r\n This means that she slowed down at the same time she noticed the police car.<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n \t Barking loudly, the dog ran across the driveway.<\/p>\r\n This means that the dog barked as it ran across the driveway.<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<\/div>\r\n You can add an -ing<\/em> modifier to the beginning or the end of a sentence, depending on which fits best.<\/p>\r\n\r\n Beginning: <\/strong>Conducting a survey among her friends, Amanda found that few were happy in their jobs.<\/p>\r\n End:<\/strong> Maria filed the final report, meeting her deadline.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n A common mistake when combining sentences using the -ing<\/em> verb form is to misplace the modifier so that it is not logically connected to the rest of the sentence. This creates a dangling modifier<\/a><\/span>. Look at the following example:<\/p>\r\n\r\n In this sentence, jogging across the parking lot<\/em> seems to modify my breath<\/em>. Since breath cannot jog, the sentence should be rewritten so that the subject is placed immediately after the modifier or added to the dangling phrase.<\/p>\r\n\r\n Some sentences can be combined using an -ed<\/em> verb form\u2014stopped<\/em>, finished<\/em>, played<\/em>. To use this method, one of the sentences must contain a form of be<\/em> as a helping verb in addition to the -ed<\/em> verb form. Take a look at the following example:<\/p>\r\n\r\n Original sentences:<\/strong> The Jones family was delayed by a traffic jam. They arrived several hours after the party started.<\/p>\r\n Revised sentence:<\/strong> Delayed by a traffic jam, the Jones family arrived several hours after the party started.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\nDuring my time in office I have achieved several goals. I have helped increase funding for local schools. I have reduced crime rates in the neighborhood. I have encouraged young people to get involved in their community. My competitor argues that she is the better choice in the upcoming election. I argue that it is ridiculous to fix something that isn\u2019t broken. If you reelect me this year, I promise to continue to serve this community.<\/blockquote>\r\n
During my time in office, I have helped increase funding for local schools, reduced crime rates in the neighborhood, and encouraged young people to get involved in their community. Why fix what isn\u2019t broken? If you reelect me this year, I will continue to achieve great things for this community. Don\u2019t take a chance on an unknown contender; vote for the proven success.<\/blockquote>\r\n
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Using Sentence Variety at the Beginning of Sentences<\/h1>\r\n
The subprime mortgage crisis left many financial institutions in jeopardy. Some economists argued that the banks were too big to fail. Other economists argued that an infusion of credit and debt would exacerbate the problem. The government finally opted to bail out the banks. It acquired $700 billion worth of mortgage-backed securities in 2008. The government optimistically expects these assets will rise in value. This will profit both the banks and the government itself.<\/blockquote>\r\n
Starting a sentence with an adverb<\/h2>\r\n
The subprime mortgage crisis left many financial institutions in jeopardy. Some economists argued that the banks were too big to fail. Other economists argued that an infusion of credit and debt would exacerbate the problem. The government finally<\/span> opted to bail out the banks. It acquired $700 billion worth of mortgage-backed securities in 2008. The government optimistically<\/span> expects these assets will rise in value. This will profit both the banks and the government itself.<\/blockquote>\r\n
The subprime mortgage crisis left many financial institutions in jeopardy. Some economists argued that the banks were too big to fail. Other economists argued that an infusion of credit and debt would exacerbate the problem. Finally, the government opted to bail out the banks. It acquired $700 billion worth of mortgage-backed securities in 2008. Optimistically, the government expects these assets will rise in value. This will profit both the banks and the government itself.<\/blockquote>\r\n
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Starting a sentence with a prepositional phrase<\/h2>\r\n
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The subprime mortgage crisis left many financial institutions in jeopardy. Some economists argued that the banks were too big to fail. Other economists argued that an infusion of credit and debt would exacerbate the problem. The government finally opted to bail out the banks. It acquired $700 billion worth of mortgage-backed securities in 2008. The government optimistically expects these assets will rise in value. This will profit both the banks and the government itself.<\/blockquote>\r\n
Throughout 2007 and 2008,<\/span> the subprime mortgage crisis worsened, leaving many financial institutions in jeopardy. According to some economists,<\/span> the banks were too big to fail. Other economists argued that an infusion of credit and debt would exacerbate the problem. Despite public objections,<\/span> the government finally opted to bail out the banks. Since the 2008 bill passed,<\/span> it has acquired $700 billion worth of morgage-backed securities. The government optimistically expects these assets will rise in value. This will profit both the banks and the government itself.<\/blockquote>\r\n
Unmovable prepositional phrases<\/h3>\r\n
Overuse of prepositional phrases<\/h3>\r\n
Starting a sentence by inverting subject and verb<\/h2>\r\n
The subprime mortgage crisis left many financial institutions in jeopardy. Some economists argued that the banks were too big to fail. Other economists argued that an infusion of credit and debt would exacerbate the problem. The government finally opted to bail out the banks. It acquired $700 billion worth of mortgage-backed securities in 2008. The government optimistically expects these assets will rise in value. This will profit both the banks and the government itself.<\/blockquote>\r\n
The subprime mortgage crisis left many financial institutions in jeopardy. The banks were too big to fail, argued some economists.<\/span> Other economists argued that an infusion of credit and debt would exacerbate the problem. The government finally opted to bail out the banks. It acquired $700 billion worth of mortgage-backed securities in 2008. These assets will rise in value, expects the government optimistically.<\/span> This will profit both the banks and the government itself.<\/blockquote>\r\n
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Connecting Ideas to Increase Sentence Variety<\/h1>\r\n
Joining ideas using an -ing<\/em> modifier<\/h2>\r\n
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Dangling modifiers<\/h3>\r\n
Joining ideas using an -ed<\/em> modifier<\/h2>\r\n