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. Zora Neale Hurston was one of the most successful writers of the Harlem Renaissance period. She wrote plays, novels, and essays that were enthusiastically received. She died in poverty despite her talent. 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 All of these sentences begin with a subject and verb. Identify these words in each sentence. Zora Neale Hurston was one of the most successful writers of the Harlem Renaissance period. She wrote plays, novels, and essays that were enthusiastically received. She died in poverty despite her talent. When too many sentences in a paragraph begin the same way, the writing will be dull and monotonous.

4. Wordiness PREVIOUS MENUEXIT Sentence Beginnings Zora Neale Hurston was one of the most successful writers of the Harlem Renaissance period. She wrote plays, novels, and essays that were enthusiastically received. She died in poverty despite her talent. ORIGINAL REVISED Zora Neale Hurston was one of the most successful writers of the Harlem Renaissance period. Even though she wrote plays, novels, and essays that were enthusiastically received, she died in poverty despite her talent. 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. Despite the periodic drizzle, we decided to go hiking anyway. Approaching cautiously, the trainer could see the wild look in the horse’s eyes. To hear him tell the story, you would think he was blameless. 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. Sentence Beginnings Despite the periodic drizzle, we decided to go hiking anyway. Approaching cautiously, the trainer could see the wild look in the horse’s eyes. To hear him tell the story, you would think he was blameless.

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. Sentence Beginnings Despite the periodic drizzle, we decided to go hiking anyway. Approaching cautiously, the trainer could see the wild look in the horse’s eyes. To hear him tell the story, you would think he was blameless. Next

9. Wordiness PREVIOUS MENUEXIT Phrases Which idea in the following paragraph could be changed into a phrase? Blood donations must be processed carefully before they can be used. They are tested for infectious diseases and identified by blood type. They are broken down into parts, such as red blood cells, platelets, and plasma. 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? Blood donations must be processed carefully before they can be used. They are tested for infectious diseases and identified by blood type. They are broken down into parts, such as red blood cells, platelets, and plasma. Click to see a revision Sentence Beginnings Phrases

11. Wordiness MENUEXIT Phrases Sentence Beginnings To vary these sentences, change one of these ideas into a phrase. Which idea could be changed into a phrase? Blood donations must be processed carefully before they can be used. They are tested for infectious diseases and identified by blood type. They are broken down into parts, such as red blood cells, platelets, and plasma.

12. Wordiness MENUEXIT Phrases Sentence Beginnings Blood donations must be processed carefully before they can be used. They are tested for infectious diseases and identified by blood type. They are broken down into parts, such as red blood cells, platelets, and plasma. He. They They are

13. Wordiness MENUEXIT Phrases Sentence Beginnings Blood donations must be processed carefully before they can be used. They are tested for infectious diseases and identified by blood type. They are broken down into parts, such as red blood cells, platelets, and plasma.

14. Wordiness MENUEXIT Phrases Sentence Beginnings Blood donations must be processed carefully before they can be used. They are tested for infectious diseases and identified by blood type. Theyare broken down into parts, such as red blood cells, platelets, and plasma. After being, they

15. Wordiness MENUEXIT Phrases Sentence Beginnings Blood donations must be processed carefully before they can be used. They are tested for infectious diseases and identified by blood type. Theyare broken down into parts, such as red blood cells, platelets, and plasma. After being, they

16. Wordiness MENUEXIT Phrases Sentence Beginnings Blood donations must be processed carefully before they can be used. They are tested for infectious diseases and identified by blood type. Theyare broken down into parts, such as red blood cells, platelets, and plasma. After being, they

17. Wordiness PREVIOUS MENUEXIT Phrases Sentence Beginnings Linking the last two sentences with a phrase helps to emphasize the sequence of the processing procedure and breaks up the monotony of the sentences. Menu Blood donations must be processed carefully before they can be used. They are tested for infectious diseases and identified by blood type. Theyare broken down into parts, such as red blood cells, platelets, and plasma. After being, they

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. No, he would not—could not—turn back now. Exhilarated, the swimmer burst through the surface of the pond. Irate, she demanded to know why he was so late. 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. No, he would not—could not—turn back now. Exhilarated, the swimmer burst through the surface of the pond. Irate, she demanded to know why he was so late. 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. Sentence Beginnings Next No, he would not—could not—turn back now. Exhilarated, the swimmer burst through the surface of the pond. Irate, she demanded to know why he was so late.

21. Wordiness PREVIOUS MENUEXIT Single Words Sentence Beginnings Where could adding a single word add variety to this paragraph? Their conversation was hushed and urgent. Their heads were bent close together. They dropped their voices even lower when the waiter walked by. Click to see a revision

22. Wordiness PREVIOUS MENUEXIT Single Words Sentence Beginnings Menu Their conversation was hushed and urgent. Their heads were bent close together. Secretively, they dropped their voices even lower when the waiter walked by. The addition of the word changes the rhythm of the sentences and adds interest by describing the couple’s mood.

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. After the child lurched and stumbled over the cat, she righted herself and tottered to her mother. Whenever instructions say “minimal assembly required,” it means you will be putting the object together for hours. Although Emily Dickinson wrote nearly 1,800 poems, most of them were published after her death. 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. After the child lurched and stumbled over the cat, she righted herself and tottered to her mother. Whenever instructions say “minimal assembly required,” it means you will be putting the object together for hours. Although Emily Dickinson wrote nearly 1,800 poems, most of them were published after her death. 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. Sentence Beginnings i Next After the child lurched and stumbled over the cat, she righted herself and tottered to her mother. Whenever instructions say “minimal assembly required,” it means you will be putting the object together for hours. Although Emily Dickinson wrote nearly 1,800 poems, most of them were published after her death.

26. Wordiness MENUEXIT Subordinate Clauses 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. After the child lurched and stumbled over the cat, she righted herself and tottered to her mother. Whenever instructions say “minimal assembly required,” it means you will be putting the object together for hours. Although Emily Dickinson wrote nearly 1,800 poems, most of them were published after her death. 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? It is important to eat plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables. They help fortify the immune system. They contain vitamins and minerals that are necessary for a balanced diet. Click to see the sentence

28. Wordiness PREVIOUS MENUEXIT Subordinate Clauses Sentence Beginnings It is important to eat plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables. They help fortify the immune system. They contain vitamins and minerals that are necessary for a balanced diet. Click to see a revision Which of these sentences could be changed to include a subordinate clause?

29. Wordiness PREVIOUS MENUEXIT Subordinate Clauses Sentence Beginnings It is important to eat plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables. They help fortify the immune system. They contain vitamins and minerals that are necessary for a balanced diet. ORIGINAL It is important to eat plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables. Besides helping to fortify the immune system, they contain vitamins and minerals that are necessary for a balanced diet. REVISED Menu