Sentence Combining Writing Consultant Presentation EG 1003: Intro to Engineering and Design Polytechnic Institute of NYU

Sentence Combining  How to combine independent clauses  Legal combination options  Avoiding common mistakes

 Avoid repeated short, choppy sentences: “The design was tested. The accuracy was 95%. The robot was marketable.”  Eliminate errors of punctuation: “The hen and the corn set off the alarm, the circuit was a success.  Highlight brief sentences with contrast: “Minimal design was used as the team pooled its knowledge of balloons. The design was successful.” Combining is more readable

Start with independent clauses  A clause has:  A subject (noun that performs the action)  A finite verb (showing number and time)  Which are independent clauses?  Precision is the repeatability of a result.  The robot completing the course.  Audience and purpose are the basic principles of professional writing.

Start with independent clauses  A clause has: A subject (noun that performs the action) A finite verb (showing number and time)  Which are independent clauses? Precision is the repeatability of a result. The robot completing the course. Audience and purpose are the basic principles of professional writing.

Sentence Combining  How to combine independent clauses  Legal combination options  Avoiding common mistakes

Combine independent clauses legally 1.Colon or semicolon 2.Semicolon with coordinating adverb 3.Comma with coordinating conjunction 4.Subordinating conjunction 5.Participial phrase transformation

independent clause The robot was accurate: it passed the test.. Independent clause ; or : or. 1.

independent clause The robot was accurate: it passed the test.. Independent clause ; or : or. 1. therefore however thus Independent clause ; independent clause., coordinating adverb meanwhile accordingly nevertheless The robot was accurate; therefore, it passed the test. then consequently furthermore 2.

independent clause The robot was accurate: it passed the test.. Independent clause ; or : or. 1. therefore however thus Independent clause ; independent clause., coordinating adverb meanwhile accordingly nevertheless The robot was accurate; therefore, it passed the test. then consequently furthermore 2. The robot was not accurate; however, it passed the test.

independent clause The robot was accurate: it passed the test.. Independent clause ; or : or. 1. therefore however thus Independent clause ; independent clause., coordinating adverb meanwhile accordingly nevertheless The robot was accurate; therefore, it passed the test. then consequently furthermore 2. Independent clause, independent clause. conjunction The robot was accurate, so it passed the test. 3. The robot was not accurate; however, it passed the test. and but for or/nor so yet

independent clause The robot was accurate: it passed the test.. Independent clause ; or : or. 1. therefore however thus Independent clause ; independent clause., coordinating adverb meanwhile accordingly nevertheless The robot was accurate; therefore, it passed the test. then consequently furthermore 2. Independent clause, independent clause. conjunction The robot was accurate, so it passed the test. 3. Fanboys The robot was not accurate; however, it passed the test. nor but for and soor yet

independent clause The robot was accurate: it passed the test.. Independent clause ; or : or. 1. therefore however thus Independent clause ; independent clause., coordinating adverb meanwhile accordingly nevertheless The robot was accurate; therefore, it passed the test. then consequently furthermore 2. Independent clause, independent clause. conjunction and but for or/nor Subordinating conjunction, independent clause. dependent clause subordinating conjunction Independent clause. dependent clause The robot was accurate, so it passed the test. Because the robot was accurate, it passed the test. The robot was accurate after it passed the test. so yet 3. 4a. 4b. Because, Before Unless, Until Since, So that If, In order to Though Although, After, As While, When/Where(ever) Even though However The robot was not accurate; however, it passed the test.

independent clause The robot was accurate: it passed the test.. Independent clause ; or : or. 1. therefore however thus Independent clause ; independent clause., coordinating adverb meanwhile accordingly nevertheless The robot was accurate; therefore, it passed the test. then consequently furthermore 2. Independent clause, independent clause. conjunction and but for or/nor Subordinating conjunction, independent clause. dependent clause subordinating conjunction Independent clause. dependent clause The robot was accurate, so it passed the test. Because the robot was accurate, it passed the test. The robot was accurate after it passed the test. so yet 3. 4a. 4b. “We hit a bus.” The robot was not accurate; however, it passed the test. Because, Before Unless, Until Since, So that If, In order to Though Although, After, As While, When/Where(ever) Even though However

independent clause The robot was accurate: it passed the test.. Independent clause ; or : or. 1. therefore however thus Independent clause ; independent clause., coordinating adverb meanwhile accordingly nevertheless The robot was accurate; therefore, it passed the test. then consequently furthermore 2. Independent clause, independent clause. conjunction and but for or/nor Subordinating conjunction, independent clause. dependent clause subordinating conjunction Independent clause. dependent clause The robot was accurate, so it passed the test. Because the robot was accurate, it passed the test. The robot was accurate after it passed the test. so yet 3. 4a. 4b. The robot was not accurate; however, it passed the test. However the robot was aligned, it always passed the test. Because, Before Unless, Until Since, So that If, In order to Though Although, After, As While, When/Where(ever) Even though However

independent clause The robot was accurate: it passed the test.. Independent clause ; or : or. Participial phrase independent clause., Being accurate, the robot passed the test therefore however thus Independent clause ; independent clause., coordinating adverb meanwhile accordingly nevertheless The robot was accurate; therefore, it passed the test. then consequently furthermore 2. Independent clause, independent clause. conjunction and but for or/nor Subordinating conjunction, independent clause. dependent clause subordinating conjunction Independent clause. dependent clause The robot was accurate, so it passed the test. Because the robot was accurate, it passed the test. The robot was accurate after it passed the test. so yet 3. 4a. 4b. The robot was not accurate; however, it passed the test. However the robot was aligned, it always passed the test. Because, Before Unless, Until Since, So that If, In order to Though Although, After, As While, When/Where(ever) Even though However

Sentence Combining  How to combine independent clauses  Legal combination options  Avoiding common mistakes

But, the robot passed the test for accuracy. Conjunctions and adverbs

However, the robot passed the test for accuracy. Conjunctions combine two things therefore however thus independent clause., Coordinating adverb meanwhile accordingly nevertheless then consequently furthermore 2. Independent clause, independent clause. conjunction and but for or/nor so yet 3.

Because the robot passed the test. Starting with “because”

Because the robot passed the test, it should be put on the market. … end with an independent clause Subordinating conjunction, independent clause. dependent clause 4a. Because, Before Unless, Until Since, So that If, In order to Though Although, After, As While, When/Where(ever) Even though However

The robot passed the test for accuracy, however it was not precise. Combining with “however”

The robot passed the test for accuracy; however, it was not precise. “However” rarely subordinates therefore however thus Independent clause ; independent clause., coordinating adverb meanwhile accordingly nevertheless then consequently furthermore 2.

Practice with these sentences  Virtual instruments simulate laboratory instruments. They do not always replace physical objects.  The hen and the corn were in the same barn. The alarm sounded.

Sentence Combining  How to combine independent clauses  Legal combination options  Avoiding common mistakes