Sentence Structure Avoiding common problems

What is a sentence?

Subject

What is a sentence? Subject Predicate (verb & modifiers, object(s), etc.)

What is a sentence? Subject Predicate: verb & modifiers, object(s), etc. Starts with a capital letter, ends with a period

What is a sentence? Subject Predicate: verb & modifiers, object(s), etc. Starts with a capital letter, ends with a period Expresses a complete thought

What is a complete thought?

It can stand alone

What is a complete thought? It can stand alone It doesn’t need another clause to explain it

What is a complete thought? It can stand alone It doesn’t need another clause to explain it Certain words can make a complete thought less complete:

What is a complete thought? It can stand alone It doesn’t need another clause to explain it Certain words can make a complete thought less complete: Examples--after, although, as, as if, because, before, even if, even though, if, in order to, since, though, unless, until, whatever, when, whenever, whether, and while

What is a complete thought? It can stand alone It doesn’t need another clause to explain it Certain words can make a complete thought less complete: Examples--after, although, as, as if, because, before, even if, even though, if, in order to, since, though, unless, until, whatever, when, whenever, whether, and while These words can make an independent clause into a dependent clause

Make sure you know the difference

Independent clause: subject and predicate and can stand alone

Make sure you know the difference Independent clause: subject and predicate and can stand alone Dependent clause: subject and predicate and cannot stand alone

All sentences are not created equal

There are simple sentences: one independent clause

All sentences are not created equal There are simple sentences: one independent clause “The student in the library read many interesting books.”

All sentences are not created equal There are simple sentences: one independent clause “The student in the library read many interesting books.” There are compound sentences: two independent clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction (and, or, but, for, nor)

All sentences are not created equal There are simple sentences: one independent clause “The student in the library read many interesting books.” There are compound sentences: two independent clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction (and, or, but, for, nor) “The student in the library read many interesting books, but none provided the information needed for the research paper.”

All sentences are not created equal There are complex sentences: an independent clause and a dependent clause, joined by a subordinating conjunction

All sentences are not created equal There are complex sentences: an independent clause and a dependent clause, joined by a subordinating conjunction Although the student in the library read many interesting books, none provided the information needed for the research paper.”

All sentences are not created equal There are complex sentences: an independent clause and a dependent clause, joined by a subordinating conjunction Although the student in the library read many interesting books, none provided the information needed for the research paper.” There are compound-complex sentences: two independent clauses and at least one dependent clause

All sentences are not created equal Although the student in the library read many interesting books, none provided the information needed for the research paper, and she began to despair.”

All sentences are not created equal Although the student in the library read many interesting books, none provided the information needed for the research paper, and she began to despair.” The dependent clause: Although the student in the library read many interesting books

All sentences are not created equal Although the student in the library read many interesting books, none provided the information needed for the research paper, and she began to despair.” The dependent clause: Although the student in the library read many interesting books First independent clause: none provided the information needed for the research paper

All sentences are not created equal Although the student in the library read many interesting books, none provided the information needed for the research paper, and she began to despair.” The dependent clause: Although the student in the library read many interesting books First independent clause: none provided the information needed for the research paper Second independent clause: and she began to despair.

Why does any of this matter?

Editors must spot and fix two kinds of errors

Why does any of this matter? Editors must spot and fix two kinds of errors Sentences that are “too short” (sentence fragments)

Why does any of this matter? Editors must spot and fix two kinds of errors Sentences that are “too short” (sentence fragments) Sentences that are “too long” (comma splices or run-ons)

Why does any of this matter? Editors must spot and fix two kinds of errors Sentences that are “too short” (sentence fragments) Sentences that are “too long” (comma splices or run-ons) WARNING: A long sentence is not necessarily a run-on sentence

Sentence fragments

May be missing something

Sentence fragments May be missing something Walking down the path that ran along the river.

Sentence fragments May be missing something Walking down the path that ran along the river. May be a dependent clause

Sentence fragments May be missing something Walking down the path that ran along the river. May be a dependent clause Which is the reason why I was always confused

Sentence fragments May be missing something Walking down the path that ran along the river. May be a dependent clause Which is the reason why I was always confused Although I always come to class

Run-on sentence “Too long”

Run-on sentence “Too long” Contains more than one independent clause

Run-on sentence “Too long” Contains more than one independent clause But lacks proper punctuation

Run-on sentence “Too long” Contains more than one independent clause But lacks proper punctuation John read the book he liked it a lot.

Run-on sentence “Too long” Contains more than one independent clause But lacks proper punctuation John read the book he liked it a lot. John read the book. He liked it a lot.

Run-on sentence “Too long” Contains more than one independent clause But lacks proper punctuation John read the book he liked it a lot. John read the book. He liked it a lot. It’s snowing outside let’s go play.

Run-on sentence “Too long” Contains more than one independent clause But lacks proper punctuation John read the book he liked it a lot. John read the book. He liked it a lot. It’s snowing outside let’s go play. It’s snowing outside. Let’s go play.

However = but (not)

But is a coordinating conjunction and can link two independent clauses

However = but (not) But is a coordinating conjunction and can link two independent clauses The man ate the sandwich, but he was soon hungry again.

However = but (not) But is a coordinating conjunction and can link two independent clauses The man ate the sandwich, but he was soon hungry again. However is an adverb and cannot link two independent clauses.

However = but (not) But is a coordinating conjunction and can link two independent clauses The man ate the sandwich, but he was soon hungry again. However is an adverb and cannot link two independent clauses. The man ate the sandwich, however he was soon hungry again.

However = but (not) But is a coordinating conjunction and can link two independent clauses The man ate the sandwich, but he was soon hungry again. However is an adverb and cannot link two independent clauses. The man ate the sandwich, however he was soon hungry again. Wrong, wrong, wrong.

However = but (not) The man ate the sandwich, however he was soon hungry again.

However = but (not) The man ate the sandwich, however he was soon hungry again. Could be: The man ate the sandwich; however he was soon hungry again.

However = but (not) The man ate the sandwich, however he was soon hungry again. Could be: The man ate the sandwich; however he was soon hungry again. Or: The man ate the sandwich, but he was soon hungry again.

However = but (not) The man ate the sandwich, however he was soon hungry again. Could be: The man ate the sandwich; however he was soon hungry again. Or: The man ate the sandwich, but he was soon hungry again. Or: The man ate the sandwich. However he was soon hungry again.

Skilled writers use a mix Simple sentences are easy to read

Skilled writers use a mix Simple sentences are easy to read But can become repetitive

Skilled writers use a mix Simple sentences are easy to read But can become repetitive Compound sentences add variety

Skilled writers use a mix Simple sentences are easy to read But can become repetitive Compound sentences add variety But can become long and unwieldy

Skilled writers use a mix Simple sentences are easy to read But can become repetitive Compound sentences add variety But can become long and unwieldy Complex sentences provide perspective

Skilled writers use a mix Simple sentences are easy to read But can become repetitive Compound sentences add variety But can become long and unwieldy Complex sentences provide perspective But can be confusing

A simple sentence Senior leaders of Al Qaeda operating from Pakistan have re-established significant control over their once battered worldwide terror network and over the past year have set up a band of training camps in the tribal regions near the Afghan border, according to American intelligence and counterterrorism officials.

A simple sentence Senior leaders of Al Qaeda operating from Pakistan have re-established significant control over their once battered worldwide terror network and over the past year have set up a band of training camps in the tribal regions near the Afghan border, according to American intelligence and counterterrorism officials.

A simple sentence Senior leaders of Al Qaeda operating from Pakistan have re-established significant control over their once battered worldwide terror network and over the past year have set up a band of training camps in the tribal regions near the Afghan border, according to American intelligence and counterterrorism officials.

A compound sentence But groups of 10 to 20 men are being trained at the camps, and the Qaeda infrastructure in the region is gradually becoming more mature.

A compound sentence But groups of 10 to 20 men are being trained at the camps, and the Qaeda infrastructure in the region is gradually becoming more mature.

A compound sentence But groups of 10 to 20 men are being trained at the camps, and the Qaeda infrastructure in the region is gradually becoming more mature.

A compound sentence But groups of 10 to 20 men are being trained at the camps, and the Qaeda infrastructure in the region is gradually becoming more mature.

A complex sentence Mr. bin Laden, who has long played less of an operational role, appears to have little direct involvement.

A complex sentence Mr. bin Laden, who has long played less of an operational role, appears to have little direct involvement.

A complex sentence Mr. bin Laden, who has long played less of an operational role, appears to have little direct involvement.

A complex sentence Mr. bin Laden, who has long played less of an operational role, appears to have little direct involvement. who has long played less of an operational role is a dependent clause

Credit Sentence examples adapted from: Al Qaeda Chiefs Are Seen to Regain Power NYT, Feb. 19, 2007