Writing Effective Sentences : Writing Effective Sentences University of the Sacred Heart
Department of Humanities
Center for Language Development Across the Disciplines
LAD
Objective : Objective To help the student write clear and effective sentences.
The Four Cornerstones of Writing Clear Sentences : The Four Cornerstones of Writing Clear Sentences Write a clear subject and a clear predicate
Place modifiers close to what is being modified
Use appropriate punctuation
Make sure the meaning can be clearly understood
Use the Appropriate Conjunctions : Use the Appropriate Conjunctions Conjunctions help you write clear sentences by connecting words or groups of words in a sentence
Coordinating conjunctions: And, but, or…
Subordinating conjunctions: As, because, if, since, until, while…
Conjunctive adverbs: Accordingly, however, instead…
Examples : Examples Mary traveled to Florida, but she could not visit Disney World.
Mary traveled to Florida because she had an important business meeting.
Mary traveled to Florida to meet some business people; however, she had to return to Puerto Rico before the meeting.
Things to Avoid : Things to Avoid
Wordiness : Wordiness The lack of responsibility of John made him
fail the class.
VS
John failed the class because of his
irresponsibility.
Or
John’s lack of responsibility made him fail the
class.
Unnecessary Phrases : Unnecessary Phrases Students in the present time have to work to pay for college.
VS
Today, students have to work to pay for college.
Eliminate Unnecessary Words and Phrases : Eliminate Unnecessary Words and Phrases The movie was kind of disturbing.
VS
The movie was disturbing.
Avoid Saying the Same Thing Twice (Redundancy) : Avoid Saying the Same Thing Twice (Redundancy) The computer is a new innovation.
VS
The computer is an innovation.
For More Information : For More Information Index English Grammar and Composition
http://www.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/index2.htm
Tons of Fun with Grammar
http://www.seasite.niu.edu/flin/103_handouts/sentences_and_phrases.htm
Grammar Book Table of Contents
http://www.grammarbook.com/exercises/grammar/cnt_gram.html
Slide12 : Center for Language Development Across the Disciplines
Prepared by: Thalia N. Nazario-Santiago
Coordinator for the Center for Languages and Culture
April-June 2003
Revised by: Patricia Kidd Revised by: Prof. Delia Serrano (January 2005)
August 2004