Writing CORRECT, CLEAR Sentences

Verb – the action or state of being; what happens in the sentence Every complete sentence has a subject and a verb. A sentence can have more than one subject (i.e., a compound subject) and more than one verb (i.e., a compound verb), but each subject must match a verb. Subject – answers the question “Who or What?” about the verb The subject must be a noun, a pronoun, or a word or phrase acting like a noun. The active ingredient in marijuana is THC. Smoking marijuana causes cancer in laboratory rats. People who smoke marijuana risk going to jail.

Subjects and verbs should “agree.” singular subject + singular verb: The active ingredient is THC. plural subject + plural verb: Smokers are at risk of cancer. “Cannabis” (is / are) the scientific name for marijuana. Cannabis and its active ingredient, THC, (is / are) of interest to doctors. Cannabis with its active ingredient, THC, (is / are) of interest to doctors.

The only uses for medicinal cannabis and its derived ingredient THC is used as a pain killer or an appetite increaser. Consider this sentence from someone’s Paper #3: But wait! “Cannabis” is the object of the preposition “for,” so it can’t be the subject of the sentence. Blocking out the prepositional phrase, we see that the answer to “Who or what is used?” is “uses.” Now we see that the sentence doesn’t make much sense: “The only uses is used as a pain killer or an appetite increaser.”

The only uses for medicinal cannabis and its derived ingredient THC is used as a pain killer or an appetite increaser. What’s the KEY concept this sentence should communicate? The only uses for medicinal cannabis are as a pain killer or an appetite increaser. Medicinal cannabis is useful only as a pain killer or an appetite increaser.

Marijuana also has serious effects on a person’s lungs. Smoking the drug, even if a person doesn’t use the drug regularly, the use can be infrequent and still yield dangerous effects on one’s lungs. The use can be infrequent and can yield effects. Smoking the drug can be infrequent and can yield effects. Either version will work, but it can’t be both at the same time. Pick ONE. Marijuana also has serious effects on a person’s lungs. The use can be infrequent and still yield dangerous effects on one’s lungs. Marijuana also has serious effects on a person’s lungs, even with infrequent use.

Although medical marijuana has some prominently conducive effects for helping the sickly, there is a dark side to this green, crystal covered, smoke-able plant. Medical marijuana has some prominently conducive effects for helping the sickly. There is also a dark side to this green, crystal covered, smoke-able plant. Using subordination and coordination to show relationships: Marijuana can be helpful. Marijuana has a dark side. (Equally important claims.) With a subordinating conjunction, you can show which claim is more important. Medical marijuana has some prominently conducive effects for helping the sickly, even though there is also a dark side to this green, crystal covered, smoke-able plant. “Also” shows equal importance; “although” shows that one idea is more important.

Although medical marijuana has some prominently conducive effects for helping the sickly, there is a dark side to this green, crystal covered, smoke-able plant. Although medical marijuana has some positive effects for helping the sick, this green, crystal covered, smoke-able plant also has a dark side. Although medical marijuana has some positive effects, it also has a dark side. Cut unnecessary words; they detract from the meaning of the sentence.

To write correct, clear sentences … …make subjects and verbs agree, …use subordination & coordination intentionally, …cut unnecessary words, and …put key words in key positions.