Characteristics Of A Good Sentence1.It begins with the main point.

Starting out with the main point puts your main noun and verb up front. This ensures that the reader quickly figures out what’s going on, while minimizing the likelihood that they’ll misunderstand what the sentence is communicating.

2. It ends with the second most important idea. The beginning and ending are the most memorable parts of the sentence, so your most important ideas should appear in those two places. (emphasis)

3. It’s grammatically sound. Nobody appreciates poor grammar and bad writing mechanics. It’s just not a pretty sight, apart from being cumbersome to read.

4. It should be easy to read expressively. Your sentences should sound good when read aloud, as that’s how it will come across to your readers.

5. It’s easy to understand. A reader shouldn’t have to pause and call time out to wrap their heads around what you’re saying.

6. It stays within a reasonable length.

The three goals in effective writing are unity, support, and coherence.

How can sentence coherence be achieved?

COHERENCEAll parts of the sentence should be clear

and logical.Coherence can be achieved by:1. Making the reference clear2. Avoiding dangling modifier3. Keeping words in proper position in

sentence4. showing logical agreement of sentence

parts5. Using parallel forms for parallel elements6. Avoiding needless shifts in construction

EMPHASISBy proportionPositionBalanced structureSynthesis and antithesisEmphasis by repetitionEmphasis by climax

COMMON SENTENCE ERRORS

What is a fragment?A fragment has a missing complete subject

or a complete predicate which does not make up a sentence. It therefore, expresses an incomplete thought. This is a writing error.

Fragments are broken-off parts of sentences and should not be punctuated as sentences.

Examples:*People waving flags and cheering.*Cher with her mother.*Always comes to class early.

Fragment

Because most transactions require a permanent record. Good writing skills are critical.

The recruiter requested a writing sample. Even though the candidate seemed to communicate well.

Revision

Because most transactions require a permanent record, good writing skills are critical.

The recruiter requested a writing sample even though the candidate seemed to communicate well.

The sentenceA sentence is a group of words with a

complete subject and a complete predicate; thus, it expresses a complete thought.Complete Subjects Complete Predicates

The baby cries.

Establishments that sell exotic meals

are becoming more and more popular.

The puppies were under the straw stack.

The economy of China has been progressing.

The complete subject contains the noun, pronoun, or group of words acting as a noun, plus their modifier, that tells who or what the sentence is about.

The complete predicate is the verb or verb phrase, plus any modifiers and complements which, show what the complete subject does or is.

The unified sentence

A sentence has unity if it expresses a single complete thought; it contains only those details necessary to uphold and enrich that thought.

Good:I see our neighbor in her garden very early in the morning, trimming the hedges, pulling the weeds, and mowing the lawn.

BadIt is my habit to wake up very early in the morning always before anybody else in the house is awake, since I cannot stay in bed when the sun is up, and I see our neighbor in her garden through my bedroom window which has a thick curtain so I could see her without being seen, and she would be trimming the hedges, etc.

When ideas are not closely related they should be put in separate sentences and unifying words and phrases should be used to ‘weld’ them together.

Good:Since I cannot stay in bed when the sun is up, I am awake before anybody else in the house. My bedroom window has a thick curtain so that I can see many interesting sights without being seen myself. I see our neighbor in her garden trimming the hedges, etc.

When ideas are closely related and bring about a fuller effect by their combined force they should be put together in one sentence. This can be done by:

1. Subordinating the minor thoughts to the more important thoughts; and,

2. Coordinating closely related thoughts when not one of them can be subordinated because they are of equal importance.

1. Subordinating the minor thoughts to the more important thoughts.

Example:I saw the people running out of their houses. I did not know what was happening but I also ran out.

Improved: When I saw the people running out of their houses, I also ran out although I did not know what was happening.

2. Coordinating closely related thoughts when not one of them cannot be subordinated because they are of equal importance.

Example:Three brothers managed the business: Julio handled the personnel. Pedro took care of the advertisements. Roman kept the books.

Improved: The three brothers managed the business: Julio handled the personnel; Pedro took care of the advertisements; Roman kept the books.

2. Run-On (Fused) Sentences

A sentence with two independent clauses must be joined by a coordinating conjunction (and, or, nor, but) or by a semicolon (;).

A run-on sentence combines two main clauses without an appropriate connector or punctuation mark to separate them

Run-on

Most job seekers present a printed résumé some are also using Web sites as electronic portfolios.

One candidate sent an e-mail résumé another sent a traditional résumé.

Revision

Most job seekers present a printed résumé. Some are also using Web sites as electronic portfolios.

One candidate sent an e-mail résumé; another sent a traditional résumé.

3. Comma-Splice Sentences

A comma splice results when a writer joins (splices together) two independent clauses with a comma.

Independent clauses may be joined with a coordinating conjunction (and, or, nor, but) or a conjunctive adverb (however, consequently, therefore, and others)

clauses joined by coordinating conjunctions require only a comma. Clauses joined by a coordinating adverb require a semicolon

Comma SpliceSome employees responded by e-mail,

others picked up the telephone.Possible RevisionsSome employees responded by e-mail,

and others picked up the telephone.Some employees responded by e-mail;

however, others picked up the telephone.

Some employees responded by e-mail; others picked up the telephone.

In general, fused sentences and comma splices can be corrected in one of five ways.a. Use a comma and a coordinating

conjunction.b. Use a semicolon.c. Use a semicolon and a transitional

word or phrase.d. Change one of the clauses to a

subordinate clause by addinga subordinator at the beginning of it.e. Punctuate the clauses as two

separate sentences.