Writing Sentences |
In order to write a good English sentence, you need to know some of the basic rules of English grammar.
Please check out the lessons and videos under the Grammar tab of this website.
Can you write correct, grammatical English sentences?
If you know the difference between simple sentences, compound sentences, and complex sentences, then you may continue reading to find out tips for making your English sentences more interesting!
Please check out the lessons and videos under the Grammar tab of this website.
Can you write correct, grammatical English sentences?
If you know the difference between simple sentences, compound sentences, and complex sentences, then you may continue reading to find out tips for making your English sentences more interesting!
No sentence can be effective if it contains facts alone. It must also contain emotion, image, logic, and promise.
Eugene Schwartz, legendary copywriter (d. 1995)
A. Acts and facts
Your sentence must have a subject - WHO or WHAT is it? Make it clear and specific.
Your sentence must have a verb describing the action - is it an interesting verb or an ordinary one?
WHERE or WHEN is this action happening - can you give more detail?
HOW do things in the sentence look, feel, sound - can you use an adjective or adverb to describe them?
"He jumped down and hit the animal."
" Tarzan swung down to the ground and struck the furious lioness on its ear."
B. Build with balance.
You need some description and some variety in your sentences - but don't get carried away.
Too many ideas, clauses, or adjectives in a sentence are just as bad as not enough!
You need some description and some variety in your sentences - but don't get carried away.
Too many ideas, clauses, or adjectives in a sentence are just as bad as not enough!
"The huge lioness, even more furious, opened its slavering mouth to roar wildly at Tarzan, then whirled on its dusty hindlegs to attack its tormentor, who by this time had leaped lithely aside and seized a branch from the parched earth nearby."
" The lioness roared and whirled to attack its tormentor."
C. Create emotion.
When your readers feel emotion, they become connected and interested.
They engage with your writing, and they want to keep reading - use words that will create feelings in your readers.
When your readers feel emotion, they become connected and interested.
They engage with your writing, and they want to keep reading - use words that will create feelings in your readers.
"Tarzan felt sad as he fought the lioness."
" Tarzan's heart sank as he realized that the lioness was already wounded."
D. Draw a picture.
This is where adjectives and strong verbs help out - they make powerful visual images in your reader's head.
Using interesting, concrete word choices can also make the picture more clear and memorable.
This is where adjectives and strong verbs help out - they make powerful visual images in your reader's head.
Using interesting, concrete word choices can also make the picture more clear and memorable.
"The lioness was hurt badly."
"Blood streaked the magnificent animal's coat,
tracing crimson ribbons along her golden sides."
"Blood streaked the magnificent animal's coat,
tracing crimson ribbons along her golden sides."
In each example above, it should be clear how the first sentence is grammatically correct, but less interesting and effective. Use all of the techniques to create more intriguing sentences, and mix the length and complexity for variety in a longer work. Even in academic writing, a more precise verb can make all the difference to your sentence!