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Vary Sentence Structure

The document provides tips for varying sentence structure, length, and style when writing. It recommends avoiding repetitive subject-verb patterns and embedding descriptive elements. Long sentences can be used to slow down descriptions, while short sentences work for action. Varying sentence openings, lengths, and structures adds variety and emphasis. Strategies like alternating short and long sentences or changing the subject position improve writing rhythm and flow.

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Alka Marwah
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154 views7 pages

Vary Sentence Structure

The document provides tips for varying sentence structure, length, and style when writing. It recommends avoiding repetitive subject-verb patterns and embedding descriptive elements. Long sentences can be used to slow down descriptions, while short sentences work for action. Varying sentence openings, lengths, and structures adds variety and emphasis. Strategies like alternating short and long sentences or changing the subject position improve writing rhythm and flow.

Uploaded by

Alka Marwah
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Vary Sentence Structure

When using descriptive language, it is important to vary your sentence structure. Try to avoid
using the same subject-verb pattern in all sentences. Embedding descriptive elements and
combining sentences can help to avoid the routine subject-verb structure.

The hall was empty. She ran towards the classroom. She entered right after the bell rang.
Varying this sentence structure by embedding descriptive detail breaks the monotonous tone and
the clipped, subject-verb style.

Racing down an empty hall, she skidded into the classroom, breathless, just as the bell clanged
above her.

Length

You should adapt the length of your sentences to fit the subject youare describing.

Long sentences can be used to slow a description down to create a sense of relaxation or time
dragging. Short sentences are more punchy, quick and dynamic, and are good for describing
dramatic events or action.

By varying the length of your sentences you will be able to show the examiner that you are
thinking carefully about your writing, and that you are consciously creating effects for the
reader.

For example: "The English lesson seemed, to Kevin, to be dragging on forever, as Mr Drake's


voice droned on and on,in its weary, low monotone, about the apparently fascinating poetry of
somelong-dead writer, who seemed to Kevin at least, to be unhealthily and unnaturally
interested in scenes of empty countryside and quiet decay".

For Example "The waves crashed. The moon shone brightly. All else was silent on the deserted
beach. From the distance came the sound of thunder."

Rhythm

Repeated use of short sentences will create a choppy, staccato rhythm. Longer sentences will
create a more fluid, fluent rhythm.

The key idea is to try to fit the right rhythm to the right subject.

So to summarise:
Long sentences:

Slow, descriptive or explanatory.

Can create a sense of relaxation, flow, or time


dragging.

Using long sentences can create a fluent style and


rhythm.

Short sentences:

Good for action, and dramatic lines. For example, 'a shot rang
out.'

Short sentences can create a punchy choppy rhythm.

Structure

As well as varying the length of your sentences you should try to vary their construction.

If you look back to your work in Year 7, you will probably find that in yourstories you had
sections like the following:

"He walked carefully into the narrow room. Then he saw a picture above the fireplace.
He wondered who was in the picture. He walked over toit. He was sure he had seen that
face before. Then he looked at the grey hair and the cruel eyes. He didn't know where he
had seen them. Then he remembered that he had once met a friend of his father's..."

Try listing the elements of this story that make it repetitive.

How would you re-write it, to make it more fluent and less repetitive?
The important thing is to create variety.

Getting rid of 'he did this and did this and he did that' can also erase purposeless repetition,
and turning a sentence around can create variation. So 'he saw a picture above the
fireplace' becomes, 'above the fireplace hung a picture.'

Sentences in which the subject is kept to the end are sometimes called 'suspenseful', because


the reader has to wait to see who or what the subject is. These suspenseful sentences can be
used to create effects.

For example: "Claire ran through the long crowded corridors, where her school mates stopped
to stare at her, out through the big double doors at the front of the school and down the main
road that led to her home."

This conventionally structured sentence can be made more effective by putting the
subject (Claire) and her verb (ran) at the end: .

"Through the long-crowded corridors, where her schoolmates stopped to stare at her, out
through the big double doors at the front of the school, and down the main road that led to her
home Claire ran"

In what ways do you think the second version is superior?

Subject: Object:

through the low grey


the sunshone hazily
clouds.
Object: Subject:

through the low grey


the sun shone hazily
clouds

Now have a go at turning these sentences around:

"Macbeth is a play about many things including murder and betrayal, guilt and love, evil and
power."

"The clouds drifted gently across the long stretch of the horizon."

"The house looked very small, with only three windows facing the busy road and a narrow strip
of overgrown lawn leading up to a battered front door.

Verbs
When describing action you should be very careful about your choice and placement of
verbs. Verbs are action words. They are the athletes of language and should be energetic and
expressive. Selecting the right verb can bring a piece to life.

As a general rule, avoid using words like 'went', 'said', 'did' and 'got'.

The time it takes to read your words should reflect what you are describing. As well as adapting
the length of your sentences a deliberate choice of vocabulary can also make a big difference.

If you are describing something fast you should convey this by the length of your description. If
you are describing something slow it should take the reader longer to read the description.

For example, try improving on:

1. 'He turned around very quickly' by picking a better verb...

2. 'The river was running extremely rapidly'...

Using verbs together can also create a quick pace and a sense of excitement, especially if the
previous sentences have been long and slow.

For example
"The journey had gone on for hours and whilst his captors dozed in the sapping heat, Michael
thought quickly and carefully about how he could escape from the clutches of a gang that
would certainly kill him.

"Suddenly he turned away very quickly and opened the car door in a rush before he got
out of the car that was going very fast"

How could you make the last sentence more exciting?

Strategies for Variation


Adding sentence variety to prose can give it life and rhythm. Too many sentences with
the same structure and length can grow monotonous for readers. Varying sentence
style and structure can also reduce repetition and add emphasis. Long sentences work
well for incorporating a lot of information, and short sentences can often maximize
crucial points. These general tips may help add variety to similar sentences.
1. Vary the rhythm by alternating short and long
sentences.
Several sentences of the same length can make for bland writing. To enliven
paragraphs, write sentences of different lengths. This will also allow for effective
emphasis.
Example:
The Winslow family visited Canada and Alaska last summer to find some Native
American art. In Anchorage stores they found some excellent examples of soapstone
carvings. But they couldn't find a dealer selling any of the woven wall hangings they
wanted. They were very disappointed when they left Anchorage empty-handed.
Revision:
The Winslow family visited Canada and Alaska last summer to find some native
American art, such as soapstone carvings and wall hangings. Anchorage stores had
many soapstone items available. Still, they were disappointed to learn that wall
hangings, which they had especially wanted, were difficult to find. Sadly, they left
empty-handed.
Example:
Many really good blues guitarists have all had the last name King. They have been
named Freddie King and Albert King and B.B. King. The name King must make a
bluesman a really good bluesman. The bluesmen named King have all been very
talented and good guitar players. The claim that a name can make a guitarist good may
not be that far-fetched.
Revision:
What makes a good bluesman? Maybe, just maybe, it's all in a stately name. B.B. King.
Freddie King. Albert King. It's no coincidence that they're the royalty of their genre.
When their fingers dance like court jesters, their guitars gleam like scepters, and their
voices bellow like regal trumpets, they seem almost like nobility. Hearing their music is
like walking into the throne room. They really are kings.
2. Vary sentence openings.
If too many sentences start with the same word, especially The, It, This, or I, prose can
grow tedious for readers, so changing opening words and phrases can be refreshing.
Below are alternative openings for a fairly standard sentence. Notice that different
beginnings can alter not only the structure but also the emphasis of the sentence. They
may also require rephrasing in sentences before or after this one, meaning that one
change could lead to an abundance of sentence variety.
Example:
The biggest coincidence that day happened when David and I ended up sitting next to
each other at the Super Bowl.
Possible Revisions:

 Coincidentally, David and I ended up sitting right next to each other at the Super
Bowl.
 In an amazing coincidence, David and I ended up sitting next to each other at the
Super Bowl.
 Sitting next to David at the Super Bowl was a tremendous coincidence.
 But the biggest coincidence that day happened when David and I ended up sitting
next to each other at the Super Bowl.
 When I sat down at the Super Bowl, I realized that, by sheer coincidence, I was
directly next to David.
 By sheer coincidence, I ended up sitting directly next to David at the Super Bowl.
 With over 50,000 fans at the Super Bowl, it took an incredible coincidence for me
to end up sitting right next to David.
 What are the odds that I would have ended up sitting right next to David at the
Super Bowl?
 David and I, without any prior planning, ended up sitting right next to each other
at the Super Bowl.
 Without any prior planning, David and I ended up sitting right next to each other
at the Super Bowl.
 At the crowded Super Bowl, packed with 50,000 screaming fans, David and I
ended up sitting right next to each other by sheer coincidence.
 Though I hadn't made any advance arrangements with David, we ended up
sitting right next to each other at the Super Bowl.
 Many amazing coincidences occurred that day, but nothing topped sitting right
next to David at the Super Bowl.
 Unbelievable, I know, but David and I ended up sitting right next to each other at
the Super Bowl.
 Guided by some bizarre coincidence, David and I ended up sitting right next to
each other at the Super Bowl.

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