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.”