1. The Art of Styling Sentences
Adapted from The Art of Styling Sentences: 20 Patterns for Success
Third Edition
(Barron’s Educational Series, 1993)
By Marie L. Waddell, Robert M. Esch, and Robert R. Walker

2. Pattern 1 Compound Sentence: semicolon, no conjunction
S V; S V
Hard work is only one side of the equation; talent is the other
My forefathers didn’t come over on the Mayflower; they met the boat. –Will Rogers

3. When to Use This Pattern
Use this pattern if you have talked about several similar ideas in several sentences. If you combine these sentences it can make a single, more powerful sentence.
When revising look for paragraphs that have many short sentences that have parallel ideas. Ask yourself, “Will combining these make a more powerful and effective sentence?”

4. Common Semicolon Errors
The Comma Splice (using a comma instead of a period, semicolon, or colon to separate two sentences you have joined). *The plant wilted, I forgot to water it.
The fragment
Because so many of us work 24/7;…
For example;…
The dance started at 8:30;…
How can we fix these examples?

5. Variations of Pattern 1
This variation uses a conjunctive adverb (connector) such as however, hence, therefore, thus, then, moreover, nevertheless, etc.
You need a semicolon before the connector, but a comma after the connector is optional.
1A: S V; however, S V.
1B: S V; S V, and S V.
Or S V, but S V; S V.
The rain kept falling ; Joan saw the roof begin to lead, and she put out a bucket to catch the water.

6. Exercises for Pattern 1 Add an independent clause to the following:
1. ________________ the beach was deserted and scary.
After they lost the match, the tennis team went home; ______________________________.
The large blue whale came very close to the boat; _______________________________.

7. Complete each of the following by adding an appropriate adverb.
I really didn’t want to go to the party; ______ I went because my friend asked me to.
My teacher has traveled extensively; _______ I asked his advice about studying in Italy.
I have to feed the pets when I get home; _____ I have to have dinner started by the time my parents get home.

8. Combine the short sentences into one sentence that follows pattern 1 b.
The girl looks happy.
She has a new car.
Her brother has one too.
Or create a sentence of your own.

9. The girl looks happy after her family won the lottery; her parents bought her a new car, and they bought her brother one too.

10. Pattern 2 Compound Sentence with Elliptical construction
S V DO or SC; S, DO or SC
The comma indicates the omitted verb. The comma says to the reader, “Mentally insert the same verb you have already read in the first clause.”
Ex. A red light means stop; a green light, go.
DO=direct object; which receives the action of the verb
SC= subject complement; which describes the subject

11. Parallel Structure
For this to work, the clauses need parallel wording.
Bill played a musical number by Bach; Joan, Beethoven. -- What’s wrong with this?
Bill played a musical number by Bach; Joan, one by Beethoven.

12. When you leave out more than the verb, you may need to put in a word such as one here.
The sentence below leaves out more than just the verb. It leaves out the subject and the verb.
“The artist’s instinct is intuitive, not rationale; aesthetic, not practical.”
“Lou Williams was in for fraud; John Jones for gambling.” – Wall Street Journal.
“Thought is the blossom; language, the bud; action, the fruit.” -- Emerson

13. When to Use This Pattern
When you don’t want to repeat the same verb in the second or third clause.
Be sure to use “your ear” to test whether it’s the right time and usage of the pattern. Does the sentence still sound natural? If it’s awkward or unclear, it’s not the right time to use it.

14. Exercises
Complete the following sentences. 1) If the first clause is missing, fill in a complete clause (with a verb) so it makes sense. 2) If the second clause is missing, fill in the blank leaving out the verb and whatever else may be repetition.
Ex. The painting on the wall represents chaos to Alex; to Alice, a wonderland.
Ex. The dove is a symbol of peace; the hawk, of war.

15. 1. Going to carnivals makes me happy;______
______________________________________
2. _____________________; violent movies, uncomfortable.
3. ______________; Ireland and Scotland, much
greener.
4. All three children want to go to McDonald’s for lunch; ______________________________.
5. 2 of your own

17. Pattern 3 Compound Sentence with Explanatory Statement
General statement: specific example
Examples:
Darwin's Origin of Species forcibly states a harsh truth: only the fittest survive.
Don’t forget what the old saying prudently advises: Be careful what you wish for because you may actually get it.

18. Remember…
A colon signals that something important or explanatory will follow and indicates that the second clause will specifically explain or expand an idea expressed in the first clause.
Capitalization of the first word after the colon is a matter of personal taste and style; however, do capitalize the first word when quoting someone.
Remember the test for every compound sentence: both clauses must be full statements and capable of standing alone as sentences.

19. Pattern 3A (compound sentence using a dash)
S V – S V.
A. Specific statement (example) general statement (idea)
________________________ – _________________________
(an independent clause) (an independent clause)
The second statement may also signify a break in thought.
Because a dash is more informal,
use this structure sparingly.

20. 3A Model
“All successful men have agreed in one thing-- they were causationists” (Ralph Waldo Emerson).

21. Pattern 4 A Series without a Conjunction
A,B,C
The United States has a government of the people, by the people, for the people.

22. Pattern 4A A Series with a Variation
A or B or C
Despite his handicaps, I have never seen Larry angry or cross or depressed.

23. Pattern 5 A Series with a Balanced Pair
A and B, C and D, E and F (may be in any slot in the sentence)
"God is day and night, winter and summer, war and peace, surfeit and hunger." --Heraclitus

24. Pattern 6 An Introductory series of Appositives
Appositive, appositive, appositive--summary word S V
Vanity, greed, corruption-- which serves as the novel's source of conflict?

25. Pattern 7 An Internal Series of Appositives or Modifiers
S --appositive, appositive, appositive--V
The necessary qualities for political life--guile, ruthlessness, and garrulity--she learned by carefully studying his father's life.

26. Pattern 7A A Variation: a Single Appositive or a Pair
S --appositive--V
A sudden explosion--artillery fire--signaled the beginning of a barrage.

27. Pattern 8 Dependent Clauses in a Pair or in a Series
If..., if..., if..., then S V
If you clothes are made of cotton, if you wash them with soap, if you hang them on the line, you may not need a fabric softener.

28. Pattern 9 Repetition of a Key Term
S V key term, repeated key term
"Victory at all costs, victory in spite of all terror, victory however long and hard the road may be [. . .]." Winston Churchill

29. Pattern 9A A Variation: Some Word repeated in a Parallel Structure
S V repeated key word in same position
His greatest discoveries, his greatest successes, his greatest influence upon daily life came to Edison only after repeated failure.

30. Pattern 10 Emphatic Appositive at End, after a Colon
S V word: appositive
Airport thieves have a common target: unwary travelers.

31. Pattern 10A A Variation: Appositive (single or pair or series) after a Dash
S V word--appositive
Adjusting to a new job requires one quality above--a sense of humor.

32. Pattern 11 Interrupting Modifier Between S and V
S (modifier that whispers) V
The hunter (a common sight in New Hampshire woods during the winter) carried a large caliber rifle.

33. Pattern 11A A Full Sentence as Interrupting Modifier
S--a full sentence--V
Juliet's famous question--"Wherefore art thou, Romeo?"--is often misunderstood.

34. Pattern 12 Introductory or Concluding Participles
Participial Phrase, S V (or reverse)
Laughing at his foolish behavior, she fell backwards in her chair.
Despised by most Westerners, the terrorist group acted with impunity.

35. Pattern 13 A Single Modifier Out of Place for Emphasis
Modifier, S V
To begin with, some ideas are just plain difficult.

36. Pattern 14 Prepositional Phrase Before S--V
Prepositional Phrase S V (or V S)
During the long winter months, Tom toiled as a trapper.

37. Pattern 15 Object or Complement Before S--V
Object or Complement S V
His kind of sarcasm (,)I do not like.

38. Pattern 15A Complete Inversion of Normal Pattern
Object or Complement or modifier V S
Down the field and through the tacklers ran the Heisman Trophy winner.

39. Pattern 16 Paired Constructions
The more S V, the more S V
The more I saw of his work, the more I knew I didn't want to purchase any.

40. Pattern 16A A Paired Construction for Contrast Only
A "this, not that" or "not this but that" construction
Genius, not stupidity, has limits.

41. Pattern 17 Dependent Clause as Subject or Object or Complement
S [dependent clause] V
What a man cannot imagine cannot be created.

42. Pattern 18 Absolute Construction Anywhere in Sentence
Absolute construction, S V
His early efforts failing, Ted tried a new approach to the calculus problem.
The French defeated, the Germans advanced on Paris.

43. Pattern 19 The Short, Simple Sentence for Relief or Dramatic Effect
S V
Perseverance pays.
I think not.

44. Pattern 19A A Short Question for Dramatic Effect
Interrogative word standing alone
Question based solely on intonation
Why not?
You really care?

45. Pattern 20 The Deliberate Fragment
Merely a part of a sentence
Fine.
First, the nuts and bolts.