Using Correct English

Sentence structure
1. Complete vs. incomplete sentences. Say which of the following sentences are acceptable in English and which are not. If the sentence is not
complete, make the necessary changes and additions to turn it into a complete sentence.
a.
When Richard Nixon ran for the Presidency in 1960.
Richard Nixon ran for the Presidency in 1960.
Related events following one another in time.
Soon one and then the other slipper fell off.
Related events usually follow one another in time.
Although one and then the other slipper fell off.
He ran as if a thousand devils were after him.
As if a thousand devils were after him.
While we had plenty of time.
While we had plenty of time, we did not want to do Bills errands.
b.
During the final week of rehearsal, the director called the cast together and divided it into two groups. The one group comprising Friday night cast and
the other the Sunday night cast.
There he stood. The victor by unanimous vote of the judges! Champion by acclamation of the masses!
The principal kinds of entertainment were parties and the radio. Television having not yet been invented.
We went East not only to visit some college campuses but to see New England. To understand better much of the literature written about it.
So much for the advantages. Now a few examples of the disadvantages for you to consider.
We are delighted that you enjoyed the dinner. Although we are sorry that you did not enjoy the program.
Thus ended the young life of John F. Kennedy. The youngest man ever to have been elected president.
What price fame? A life not your own. Demands, demands, demands.
I made him open and show me his book. It was chockful. All kinds of names of all kinds of people from all over everywhere. New pages clean, and old
pages scratched out. In purple indelible pencil.
2. Run-together sentences.
In which of the following sentences is the comma appropriate, and in which does it lead to a run-together sentence?
Senator Dinken was absent when his pork-barrel bill came to a vote, however, he had enough support so that it passed by a comfortable margin.
Students in English 102 meet in small tutorial groups once a week, this gives them a chance to learn from each other.
The wind blew, the rain poured, the trees swayed.
The speaker continued to discuss the effects of the election until nearly ten oclock, nobody told him that the period bell had rung.
The principal droned on, the class fidgeted.
Man proposes, God disposes.
3. Combining sentence elements.
Mr. Browne could not decide whether to move. Neither could his wife.
Janes precious ring fell out of her hand. It rolled down the aisle. It fell into the orchestra pit.
Leaves blew and swirled all over the yard. Paper did too.
I have a friend who is a certified public accountant, He works in a large city bank, and he has urged me to take up accounting.
The clerk was angered by our refusal to buy the watch. He became very insulting.
I have the check at home. You can get it by stopping by this evening.
We are planning a reunion in December. I will honor last years graduating class.
Using correct English II
Faulty coordination and subordination.
To achieve effective coordination and subordination:
1. Do not join clauses unnaturally.
Faulty:
Bill was an adopted boy, and he was not affectionate.
Improved:
Bill, an adopted boy, was not affectionate.
2. Do not put a main idea in a subordinate clause or phrase.
Faulty:
The sailor was strolling calmly on the deck when a huge wave washed him overboard.
Improved:
As the sailor was strolling calmly on the deck, a huge wave washed him overboard.

3.

Do not string together too many independent clauses with and, but, and so, which produce excessive coordination (in which all clauses have
equal value).

Faulty:
Improved:

The book was very interesting, but I sometimes wonder about its value, for it didnt seem to deal with probable situations, and I
think books should relate truth, so I dont think Ill read another like it.
Although the book was very interesting, I sometimes wonder about its value, for it didnt seem to deal with probable situations.
Because I think books should relate truth, I dont think Ill read another book like it.

4. Do not use connectives carelessly.

Faulty:
While I dont object strongly, I hope that you change your mind.
Improved:
Though I dont object strongly, I hope that you change your mind.
5. Do not write a series of subordinate clauses or phrases, each of which is dependent upon the preceding one.
Faulty:
During next summers vacation we will go to a resort which is near Estes Park, which is a beautiful park which is near Boulder and
Denver, which are in Colorado.
Improved:
During next summers vacation we will go to a resort near Estes Park, a beautiful park near Boulder and Denver, Colorado.
Practice:
The following sentences illustrate common errors in faulty coordination and subordination. Rewrite the passages in accordance with the principles for
effectively combining ideas.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

Bill joined a fraternity in his sophomore year, and he studied hard, graduating with highest honors.
I tried to acquire a British accent in order to play the role of the butler and I did not succeed.
I was reading quietly on the sofa one Sunday morning when suddenly a car careened across the front lawn and crashed into the bay window,
scaring me dreadfully.
He has never learned the minimum essentials of grammar so he can learn any foreign language easily.
He has never played basketball or studied it, so that he is hardly a well-prepared referee.
Dad was sitting in the living room reading the evening papers when he heard the telephone ring, and a voice shouted that our house was on fire.
My grandfather was a successful attorney, a sort of Mr. District Attorney, and his picture shows that he had an intelligent face and beautiful wavy
hair.
I know that Time publishes only short articles which are often mixtures of facts and opinions, and this is all right if a person knows how to
distinguish between facts and opinions, but for the average reader perhaps a more factual presentation would be better.

Cohesive devices: insert the best alternative

1 Polls show that Tony Blair is the most popular Prime Minister this century. ______________ , there are even members of his own party who are
uneasy with his approach.
In particular

However For instance

2 There are some slight variations in temperature, but ________________ 26 to 27C should be expected.
consequently
otherwise as a rule
3 The two main Channel Islands, ________________ Jersey and Guernsey, are much closer to France than to England.
for example
namely
in particular
4 It was announced that nurses' working hours would be increased by 25%. ______________ , even fewer trainee nurses are expected to join the
profession.
As a result
So that
Likewise
5 Sales of CDs have experienced a small but steady fall over the past 12 months. _____________ , vinyl records have seen an increase in their share of
the market, up to 1.7%.
Above all
Correspondingly
In contrast
6 The Vice Chancellor explained that in light of the current financial climate and because of unexpected bad debts, it would be necessary to peg salary
levels at their current level for all grades of staff. ______________ , no-one was getting a pay rise.
Nevertheless
In other words
Similarly
7 It is clear, therefore, that the situation in Brazil will improve only slowly. ______________ the economic problems being experienced in Japan, the
outlook is slightly more optimistic.
Furthermore
In comparison
With reference to
8 In order to try to reduce car use in the inner cities, the government has announced new restrictions on company parking spaces and
______________ , a new tax on individual car use.
as well asin addition
in the same way
9 Essays must be handed in by the deadline, ______________ they will not be marked.
obviously
otherwise
as a result
10 ______________ it has been shown that fractures can occur at even relatively low pressures, the use of the material should not be completely
discounted.
Nevertheless

Because

Even though