Writing Effective Sentences

ModifiersAgreementCoordinatio

nSubordinati

on

ParallelismVarietyRedundanc

yDiction

Examine the sentences.

Misplaced modifiers

1. The instructor announced that the term paper was due on April 25 at the beginning of class.

2. I could see large snowflakes falling from the bedroom window.

Dangling modifiers

3. Turning the page, the book’s binding cracked.

4. Applauding and cheering, the band returned for an encore.

Examine the sentences.

Shifts in person, number and tense

5. When people receive a gift, you should be gracious and polite.

6. Public schools in Florida have an air-conditioning system.

Coordination and subordination

7. I passed the ball, Sam failed to catch it. 8. Linda and Pablo got divorced. They could not

agree about anything.

Examine the sentences.

Parallelism

9. The dentist told me to stop eating so much candy and that I should floss my teeth.

10. A well-rounded diet, exercising, and to get enough sleep are essential to good health.

11. The drivers waited patiently as the work crew cleaned up the wreck, but after an hour the horns were honked loudly by all the drivers.

12. Mark wanted a vocation rather than to save money to buy a house.

Examine the sentences.

Avoid stringing simple sentences together with coordinating conjunctions

13. There was a long line at the deli, so Chris decided to leave.

Begin some sentences with a prepositional phrase.

14. The crowd waited expectantly inside the theatre.

15. The dogs barked and jumped to greet their master.Begin some sentences with a present or past

participle.

Variet

Variet

yy

Examine the sentences.

Begin some sentences with adverbs.

16. The student left the room angrily.17. The math instructor explained patiently

the assignment again.

Begin some sentences with infinitive phrases.

18. I set my alarm for 7 A.M. to get breakfast ready on time.

19. I developed hives because I ate shellfish.Begin some sentences with a subordinating clause.

Variet

Variet

yy

Examine the sentences.

20. The vase was oval in shape.21. Choosing the field of accounting as

my major resulted in my realizing that college is hard work.

22. workers with jobs that are low in pay

23. Jane, who is impatient, usually cannot wait for class to end and packs up all of her books and notebooks in her backpack before the class is over.

Redundancy and wordiness

Examine the sentences.

24. The chairman suggested that we get together again next week ．

25. Both salt and sugar are easy to melt in hot water.

26.The young man always puts on leather shoes.

27. They persuaded their son to try again, but he just turned a deaf ear to them.

28. Please fetch me some water when you return this afternoon.

29.It is uneasy for the children to do such a thing.

Diction

Examine the sentences.

30. We all hope him to get the first prize.31. Mr. Smith denied my invitation to a

dinner party.32. Who is responsible for this

department?33. She will probably be elected woman

chairman.34. The conclusion that the scholar has

come to is that kids should not have to suffer for the sins of their fathers.

35. Mrs. Brown was indignant with her son, because he hadn’t done his homework.

Diction

Examine the sentences.

36. While reading the tragedy, the girl cried over its pages.

37. Would you mind opening the gate? The air in this room is too close.

38. In the basketball game, our team won the British team.

39. We all enjoy public medicine care.40. We are short of English teachers. Do

you have anyone to introduce?41. The new economical policy is very

popular.Diction