1. Sentence Combining Writing Consultant Presentation
EG 1003: Intro to Engineering and Design
NYU’s Polytechnic School of Engineering

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

3. Combining is more readable
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.”

4. 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.

5. 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.

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

7. Combine independent clauses legally
Colon or semicolon
Semicolon with coordinating adverb
Comma with coordinating conjunction
Subordinating conjunction
Participial phrase transformation

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

16. Subordinating conjunction subordinating conjunction
Independent clause
independent clause
The robot was accurate: it passed the test. 1.
; or : or . .
Independent clause
coordinating adverb
independent clause
The robot was accurate; therefore, it passed the test. 2. ; , .
The robot was not accurate; however, it passed the test.
therefore
however thus
meanwhile
accordingly
nevertheless
then
consequently
furthermore
Independent clause
conjunction
independent clause
The robot was accurate, so it passed the test. 3. , .
and
but
for or/nor so
yet
Because the robot was accurate, it passed the test.
Subordinating conjunction
dependent clause
independent clause
4a. , .
Because, Before
Unless, Until
Since, So that
If, In order to
Though
Although, After, As
While, When/Where(ever)
Even though However
However the robot was aligned, it always passed the test.
Independent clause
subordinating conjunction
dependent clause
The robot was accurate after it passed the test.
4b. .
Participial phrase
independent clause
Being accurate, the robot passed the test. 5. , .

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

24. 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.

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