varying your sentences 4 easy tips for improving your writing style
TRANSCRIPT
Varying Your Sentences
4 Easy Tips for Improving Your Writing Style
Tip #1: Change the Sentence TYPE
NORMAL WORD ORDER
The MHS Program has many benefits.
QUESTION RATHER THAN STATEMENT
What are the benefits of the MHS Program?
Tip #2: Change Sentence Beginning
NORMAL WORD ORDER: Sentence starts with subject
I don’t like to study grammar.
Instead:
Start with a transitional word
Surprisingly, I don’t like to study grammar.
Or a prepositional phrase:
To tell the truth, I don’t like to study grammar.
Tip # 3: Combine Sentences
The conference takes place every May. It is a great place to learn new counseling approaches.
Use Coordinating Conjunctions
Original: The conference takes place every May. It is a great place to learn new counseling approaches.
The conference takes place every May, and it is a great place to learn new counseling approaches.
Use Compound Subject or Verb
Original: The conference takes place every May. It is a great place to learn new counseling approaches.
The conference takes place every May and is a great place to learn new counseling approaches.
Use Subordinating Conjunctions
Original: The conference takes place every May. It is a great place to learn new counseling approaches.
Because the conference takes place every May, it is a great place to learn new counseling approaches.
Use Relative Pronouns (who, which, that)
Original: The conference takes place every May. It is a great place to learn new counseling approaches.
The conference, which takes place every May, is a great place to learn new counseling approaches.
Use an Appositive
Original: The conference takes place every May. It is a great place to learn new counseling approaches.
The conference, a great place to learn new counseling approaches, takes place every May.
Use Present or Past Participle
Original: The conference takes place every May. It is a great place to learn new counseling approaches.
Taking place every May, the conference is a great place to learn new counseling approaches.
Held every May, the conference is a great place to learn new counseling approaches.
Tip #4: Vary Sentence Lengths
Two equal sentences
Grammar isn’t the main pleasure in my life. The main pleasure in my life is writing.
Short sentence added for emphasis
Grammar isn’t the main pleasure in my life. Writing is.
Remember, writing is a process, not a one-step activity. Save lots of time for editing. As one author said, “There is no good writing, only good re-writing.”