English 365

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Chapter 10 Overview:
Writing Correct and Effective Sentences

Writing grammatically correct sentences
Structuring effective sentences
Choosing the right words and phrases
Understanding Simplified English for nonnative speakers
Preparing text for translation

Follow these nine principles for using clear, correct grammar:

Avoid sentence fragments.
Avoid comma splices.
Avoid run-on sentences.
Avoid ambiguous pronoun references.
Compare items clearly.

Follow these nine principles for using clear, correct grammar (cont.):

Use adjectives clearly.
Maintain subject-verb agreement.
Maintain pronoun-antecedent agreement.
Use tenses correctly.

Use these six techniques

for structuring effective sentences:

Emphasize new and important information.
Choose an appropriate sentence length.
Focus on the “real” subject.
Focus on the “real” verb.
Use parallel structure.
Use modifiers effectively.

Use these three guidelines for emphasizing new and important information:

Place new information at a sentence’s end.
Try not to end sentences with qualifying information.
Put references to time and space at the beginning of the sentence.

Use these four guidelines for choosing appropriate sentence lengths:

Aim for an average of 15–20 words per sentence.
Say one thing simply and clearly before moving on to the next idea.
Consider breaking up a long sentence into a list.
Avoid a series of short, choppy sentences.

Use these two guidelines for focusing on a sentence’s “real” subject:

Make the “real” subject of the sentence into the sentence’s grammatical subject.
Reduce the number of expletives (it, generally followed by is, or there, generally followed by is or are) in the sentence.

Use these two guidelines for focusing on a sentence’s “real” verb:

Convert nominalizations to active verbs.
Search for character strings such as tion,
ment, sis, ence, ing, and ance.

Use parallel structure:

Use the same grammatical form for coordinate elements in a sentence.
all clauses either active or passive
all verbs either infinitives or participles
all nouns preceded by the same article
Parallel structure creates a recognizable pattern and makes a sentence easier to follow.

Use modifiers effectively:

Distinguish between restrictive and nonrestrictive modifiers.
Avoid misplaced modifiers.
Avoid dangling modifiers.

Choose the right words and phrases:

Select an appropriate level of formality.
Be clear and specific.
Be concise.
Use inoffensive language.

Select an appropriate level of formality:

There are three levels of formality:
informal
moderately formal
highly formal
Use a level and tone appropriate for your
audience
subject
purpose

Informal writing can cause two problems:

It tends to be imprecise.
It can be embarrassing.

Use these seven techniques to make your writing clear and specific:

Be specific.
Avoid unnecessary jargon.
Use positive constructions.
Avoid long noun strings.
Avoid clichés.
Avoid euphemisms.

Use active and passive voice appropriately.

Use active and

passive voice appropriately:

Use the active voice unless

the agent is clear from the context
the agent is unknown
the agent is less important than the action
a reference to the agent is embarrassing, dangerous, or in some other way inappropriate

Use these three techniques

for writing specifically:

Use precise words.
Provide adequate detail.
Avoid ambiguity.

Avoid unnecessary jargon for four reasons:

It can be imprecise.
It can be confusing.
It is often seen as condescending.
It is often intimidating.

Use these five techniques to be concise:

Avoid obvious statements.
Avoid filler.
Avoid unnecessary prepositional phrases.
Avoid wordy phrases.
Avoid fancy words.

Follow these six guidelines

for avoiding sexist language:

Replace male-gender words with non-gender-specific words.
Switch to a different form of the verb.
Switch to the plural.
Switch to he or she, he/she, s/he, or his or her.
Address the reader directly.
Alternate he and she.

Follow these five guidelines for using the people-first approach:

Refer to the person first, the disability second.
Don’t confuse handicap with disability.
Don’t refer to victimization.
Don’t refer to a person as wheelchair bound or confined to a wheelchair.
Don’t refer to people with disabilities as abnormal.

Understand the uses of Simplified English:

Each version of Simplified English is designed for a specific discipline, such as aerospace mechanics.
Each version has a set of about 1,000 words.
Each word has only one meaning. For example, right is the opposite of left; it does not mean “correct.”

Use these seven techniques

in preparing text for translation:

Use short sentences.
Use the active voice.
Use simple words.
Include a glossary.
Use words that have only one meaning.
Use pronouns carefully.
Avoid jokes, puns, and culture-bound references.