Varying Your Sentences

Varying Your Sentences

Ways to vary your sentences

Write long sentences

Write short sentences

Interrupt your sentences

Mix Cumulative and periodic sentences

Use introductory elements

Use interrupters

Writing long sentences

· We’ll define a long sentence as one exceeding 25 words

· Don’t overuse these sentences

· Use these sentences deliberately and strategically

· Balance longer sentences with shorter and average length sentences

Creating longer sentences

· String together multiple clauses

· Connect what could be separate sentences together

· Form cumulative (sub and verb near beginning followed by modifiers) or periodic (sub and verb near the end, introduced by modifiers) sentences

· Use parallelism in longer sentences (especially periodic sentences) to help with clarity

· Don’t overuse periodic sentences (they can be unclear) but an occasional periodic sentence can lend weight to an idea

Writing shorter sentences

· Like longer sentences, these should be written deliberately, not by accident

· Attempt to mix these in with longer sentences

· These sentences work well to introduce or cap ideas.

· These sentences can effectively make short, but important (main) points.

· Can be used in series for description when the writer desires a stronger pause between elements within the series.

Using Interrupters

· Interrupters can give a sense of speech or speaking

· Interruptions usually add details or additional information

· Interrupters can also be used to provide rhythm, emphasis, or commentary

· Punctuation such as dashes, hyphens, or parentheses should be used with interrupters to begin and end them

§ Commas provide the slightest break, parentheses provide the most clarity, and dashes provide the most emphasis

· Appositives can also be used as interrupters (These are also covered in Harris)