1. WordinessSentence Beginnings MENUEXIT Continue… When too many sentences in a paragraph begin the same way, the writing will be dull and monotonous.

2. WordinessSentence Beginnings MENUEXIT All of these sentences begin with a subject and verb. Identify these words in each sentence. My little sister loves attention. She charms the adults. She flashes her toothless smile. She blows bubbles, and they think she’s darling. PREVIOUS When too many sentences in a paragraph begin the same way, the writing will be dull and monotonous. Click to see the answer

3. Wordiness PREVIOUS Click to see a revision MENUEXIT Sentence Beginnings Most of these sentences begin with a subject and verb. What sentences begin with a subject and verb? My little sister loves attention. She charms the adults. She flashes her toothless smile. She blows bubbles, and they think she’s darling. When too many sentences in a paragraph begin the same way, the writing will be dull and monotonous.

4. Wordiness PREVIOUS MENUEXIT Sentence Beginnings My little sister loves attention. She charms the adults. She flashes her toothless smile. She blows bubbles, and they think she’s darling. ORIGINAL REVISED My little sister loves attention. Flashing her toothless smile, she charms the adults. She blows bubbles, and they think she’s darling. Next Such monotonous writing can be improved by varying the beginnings of some sentences. When too many sentences in a paragraph begin the same way, the writing will be dull and monotonous.

5. Wordiness Use the following strategies for varying the way your sentences begin. Click on the strategy you want to explore. MENUEXIT MENU Sentence Beginnings Start a sentence with a phrase Start a sentence with a single word Start a sentence with a subordinate clause

6. Wordiness MENUEXIT Phrases A phrase at the beginning of a sentence can add both variety and extra detail. These phrases may also function as transitions, helping to connect ideas or show a sequence. After the game, the players signed autographs. Refusing to answer the question, the witness wept quietly. To keep silent about this incident was not possible. Sentence Beginnings

7. Wordiness MENUEXIT Phrases A phrase at the beginning of a sentence can add both variety and extra detail. These phrases may also function as transitions, helping to connect ideas or show a sequence. After the game, the players signed autographs. Refusing to answer the question, the witness wept quietly. To keep silent about this incident was not possible. Sentence Beginnings

8. Wordiness MENUEXIT Phrases A phrase at the beginning of a sentence can add both variety and extra detail. These phrases may also function as transitions, helping to connect ideas or show a sequence. After the game, the players signed autographs. Refusing to answer the question, the witness wept quietly. To keep silent about this incident was not possible. Next Sentence Beginnings

9. Wordiness PREVIOUS MENUEXIT Phrases Which idea in the following paragraph could be changed into a phrase? Stephen King is a popular writer. His books have broad appeal. His books have become hit motion pictures. Sentence Beginnings Click to see the idea

10. Wordiness PREVIOUS MENUEXIT To vary these sentences, change one of these ideas into a phrase. Which idea could be changed into a phrase? Stephen King is a popular writer. His books have broad appeal. His books have become hit motion pictures. Click to see a revision Sentence Beginnings Phrases

11. Wordiness MENUEXIT Phrases Stephen King is a popular writer. His books have broad appeal. His books have become hit motion pictures. Sentence Beginnings To vary these sentences, change one of these ideas into a phrase. Which idea could be changed into a phrase?

12. Wordiness MENUEXIT Phrases Stephen King is a popular writer. His books have broad appeal. His books have become hit motion pictures. His books have His Sentence Beginnings

13. Wordiness MENUEXIT Phrases Stephen King is a popular writer. His books have broad appeal. His books have become hit motion pictures. Sentence Beginnings

14. Wordiness MENUEXIT Phrases Sentence Beginnings Stephen King is a popular writer. His books have broad appeal. His books have become hit motion pictures., his With their

15. Wordiness MENUEXIT Phrases Sentence Beginnings Stephen King is a popular writer. His books h broad appeal. His books have become hit motion pictures., his With their

16. Wordiness MENUEXIT Phrases Sentence Beginnings Stephen King is a popular writer. His booksbroad appeal. His books have become hit motion pictures., his With their

17. Wordiness PREVIOUS MENUEXIT Phrases Sentence Beginnings Linking the last two sentences with a phrase helps to emphasize the connection between the books’ broad appeal and King’s success. It helps break up the monotony of the sentences. Menu Stephen King is a popular writer. With their broad appeal, his books have become hit motion pictures.

18. Wordiness MENUEXIT Single Words A single word at the beginning of a sentence can add variety to a paragraph and change the rhythm of the sentences. Confident, she stepped up to the microphone. Exhausted, the hikers collapsed on the old bench. Victorious, the players celebrated on the sideline. Sentence Beginnings

19. Wordiness MENUEXIT Single Words A single word at the beginning of a sentence can add variety to a paragraph and change the rhythm of the sentences. Confident, she stepped up to the microphone. Exhausted, the hikers collapsed on the old bench. Victorious, the players celebrated on the sideline. Sentence Beginnings

20. Wordiness MENUEXIT Single Words A single word at the beginning of a sentence can add variety to a paragraph and change the rhythm of the sentences. Confident, she stepped up to the microphone. Exhausted, the hikers collapsed on the old bench. Victorious, the players celebrated on the sideline. Sentence Beginnings Next

21. Wordiness PREVIOUS MENUEXIT Single Words Sentence Beginnings Where could adding a single word add variety to this paragraph? His hopes were dashed. His future looked bleak. His self- esteem was shattered. Click to see a revision

22. Wordiness PREVIOUS MENUEXIT Single Words Sentence Beginnings Menu His hopes were dashed. His future looked bleak. Worse, his self-esteem was shattered. The addition of the word changes the rhythm of the sentences and adds interest by giving one idea the most importance.

23. Wordiness MENUEXIT Subordinate Clauses Beginning with a subordinate clause not only adds variety, it can also emphasize an important idea or stress the sequence of events. Clauses can also function as transitions, helping to connect ideas. When he reached the top of the tree, he grabbed a slender branch and shouted with joy. Because a tornado can happen very suddenly, it pays to be prepared. Whenever I have the chance, I travel to exotic places. Sentence Beginnings

24. Wordiness MENUEXIT Subordinate Clauses Beginning with a subordinate clause not only adds variety, it can also emphasize an important idea or stress the sequence of events. Clauses can also function as transitions, helping to connect ideas. When he reached the top of the tree, he grabbed a slender branch and shouted with joy. Because a tornado can happen very suddenly, it pays to be prepared. Whenever I have the chance, I travel to exotic places. Sentence Beginnings

25. Wordiness MENUEXIT Subordinate Clauses Beginning with a subordinate clause not only adds variety, it can also emphasize an important idea or stress the sequence of events. Clauses can also function as transitions, helping to connect ideas. When he reached the top of the tree, he grabbed a slender branch and shouted with joy. Because a tornado can happen very suddenly, it pays to be prepared. Whenever I have the chance, I travel to exotic places. Sentence Beginnings i Next

26. Wordiness MENUEXIT Subordinate Clauses When he reached the top of the tree, he grabbed a slender branch and shouted with joy. Because a tornado can happen very suddenly, it pays to be prepared. Whenever I have the chance, I travel to exotic places. Sentence Beginnings Beginning with a subordinate clause not only adds variety, it can also emphasize an important idea or stress the sequence of events. Clauses can also function as transitions, helping to connect ideas. i CLOSE A subordinate clause has a subject and a verb, but it does not express a complete thought and cannot stand alone as a sentence.

27. Wordiness PREVIOUS MENUEXIT Subordinate Clauses Sentence Beginnings Which of these sentences could be changed to include a subordinate clause? My cousin is rather quiet. She stays in her room for hours. She lives in our house, but we sometimes forget she exists. Click to see the sentence

28. Wordiness PREVIOUS MENUEXIT Subordinate Clauses Sentence Beginnings Which of these sentences could become a subordinate clause? My cousin is rather quiet. She stays in her room for hours. She lives in our house, but we sometimes forget she exists. Click to see a revision

29. Wordiness PREVIOUS MENUEXIT Subordinate Clauses Sentence Beginnings My cousin is rather quiet. She stays in her room for hours. She lives in our house, but we sometimes forget she exists. ORIGINAL My cousin is rather quiet. She stays in her room for hours. Although she lives in our house, we sometimes forget she exists. REVISED Menu