Transcript Varying Your Sentences

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.”