9 Tips for Writing Good Sentences
1. Knowing the Basics Before Writing
Make sure your sentence expresses a complete thought. A sentence is a group of words that together express a complete idea that has meaning. When writing, it is a good idea to read your sentences aloud and ask yourself; Does this sentence make sense? Does it express a complete idea? For example, Eggs near river" is not a sentence because it does not express a complete idea.
2. Keep it simple.
Long sentences or overly complex sentences don’t necessarily make sophisticated sentence writing. Sometimes a simple sentence can pack a powerful punch. Know how to eliminate fluff and adjust syntax to fit your writing style and target audience. An easily digestible message makes for better communication. A simple sentence. The simple sentence is the most basic of the sentences. It includes a subject, a verb, and it expresses a complete thought. This is known as an independent clause, because it can stand on its own. Here is an example: Janet writes. In the above example, the subject is "Janet". She is the person being
discussed. Writes is the verb. It is the action that the subject (Janet) is doing.
3. Include a subject and verb.
A subject is a person or thing that is being discussed in the sentence. The verb is the action word, which describes what the subject is doing. For example, in the sentence "I ate eggs is the subject and is the
verb.
4. Use concrete rhetoric.
If you’re trying to inspire movement or change, you don’t want to describe something as “sort of” important, especially if you’re trying to get people to donate to a cause, or protest an event.
5. Writing Compound Sentences
A compound sentence is made up of two simple sentences. The two simple sentences are joined by a comma (,) followed by one of seven words called coordinating conjunctions. The seven coordinating conjunctions are: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so. To help you remember, use the mnemonic FANBOYS. Here are some examples of compound sentences. Note the use of the coordinating conjunction.
He was happy, for he just passed his exam.
The road was long, and we could not see the end.
She was not wrong, nor was she entirely right.
She would have fallen, but Sally helped support her.
6. Employ parallelism.
Sentences are easier and more pleasant to read if there is an agreement in their grammatical structure, particularly when it comes to lists. This principle is known as parallelism, parallel structure or parallel construction. Successful parallelism: “The finale was illogical, rushed, and disappointing.” (Three adjectives.)
7. Mind your grammar.
The best sentences don’t suffer from things like passive voice, run-on sentences, or typos. Sometimes you accidentally write an incomplete sentence, or inadvertently form fragments while editing and rewriting. Be sure to identify any incomplete sentences that may be lurking throughout your writing.
8. Properly punctuate.
The right punctuation can make or break the rhythm of a single sentence. Ensure your periods, commas, hyphens, semi-colons, and any other punctuative tools are implemented correctly.
9. Practice writing.
Improvement only happens with practice. Perform writing exercises that focus on your sentence structure and how you phrase your ideas. The more you practice writing sentences, the better you’ll become.