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Effective Sentences |
Errors in Sentence Wording |
Errors in Punctuating Sentences |
Effective Word Choice |
Usage Glossary
16. Effective Sentences
17. Errors in Sentence Wording
18. Errors in Punctuating Sentences
19. Effective Word Choice
Effective sentence structure and word choice can help you improve
the overall style of your sentences and communicate
your meaning clearly. Keep in mind, however, that the purpose
of your writing task and the specific focus of each paragraph
should affect your choice of words and the structure of your
sentences. One good rule to keep in mind is that, in general,
English sentences work like relay teams in track: they perform
best with the strongest material at the end. For example, if you
are assigned an essay on study habits, you should write: "So
that you can be admitted into the college of your choice, study
hard." On the other hand, if your essay focuses on getting into
the college of your choice, you should write: "Study hard so
you will be admitted into the college of your choice."
16a Active and Passive Voices
16b Parallel Construction
16c Coordination and Subordination
16d Wordy Sentences
16e Sentences Variety
17a Misplaced Modifiers
17b Split Infinitives
17c Shifts in Construction
Sentences begin with a capital letter and end with an end punctuation
mark, most often a period. Students frequently have
difficulty punctuating sentences—using end punctuation when
there is no complete sentence (creating a fragment) or punctuating
two or more complete sentences as if they were a single
sentence (run-on sentence or comma splice).
18a Fragments
18b Comma Splices and Run-On Sentences
Adapting your language—your choice of words—to the audience,
occasion, and purpose of your papers will help you communicate your meaning more clearly to readers.
19a Formal and Informal Words
19b Specific and General Words
19c Figurative Language
19d Biased Language