05

12.09

7:08

7 Ways To Vary Your Sentences

The SVO sequence (subject, verb, object) is the most basic sentence pattern in the English language.  Many who begin writing for the first time string words together in this manner.  If your writing skills are currently limited to this structure, here are seven ways you can adjust your SVO formations so that your paragraphs sounds vibrant and energetic.

1. Turn your sentence into a question.  Rearrange the statement so that it asks a question and you’ve got instant variance.

2. Turn it into an exclamatory statement.  Similar to the first technique, changing it up to express stronger emotion helps you alter the way your paragraphs come across.

3. If it’s active, make it passive (and vice versa).   Even though active verbs are better generally better, inserting a few passive constructions help vary the way your sentences sound.

4. Combine it with your next sentence.  Rather than writing out a basic sentence, turn it into a compound or complex one by combining it with succeeding sentences.

5. Add a transitional phrase.  Insert a way to transition from the previous statement to both vary your sentences, as well as keep your ideas connected.

6. Start with a participle.  Change your verb by using a participle form, rearranging the sentence so that you lead with it.

7. Throw in new modifiers.  Add new adverbs and adjectives to change the way it reads, altering your verbs whenever necessary.

As always, make sure to check your new sentences with a good grammar checking software.  It’s even more crucial when changing text up to vary your sentences to ensure you don’t accidentally include mistakes during revision.

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17

11.09

9:53

Types Of Supporting Statements For Your Essay

In essays, the body typically consists of a series of supporting statements that are designed to explain “why” you’re expressing a particular opinion.  This “why” can take the form of many different things.  Generally, though, it will fall under one (or more) of these five general types of supporting statements.

1. Specific examples

Examples are among the most popular supporting statements for essays, as they provide a tangible account that the reader can imagine, making your assertions more “real” in their minds.  If you argue that a particular politician is corrupt, for instance, you can state instances that depict that person in such a manner, making your claim more believable.

2. Facts

A fact is something that has been derived objectively – it’s something proven and undeniable.  As such, facts that support your assertions  – from statistics to scientific truths – make for some very compelling evidence.

3. Reasons

When you provide supporting statements that aren’t completely “facts,” they generally fall under this category.  Reasons are typically drawn from both facts and opinions tied together by sound logic.  As such, they make sense as an argument, despite not owning full immunity to being challenged.  Want an example?  Read how many times we’ve promoted the use of a grammar checking software using pure “reasoning” in these pages.

4. Descriptions and anecdotes

Describing a particular situation or relaying an anecdotal event can sometimes prove to be a good method of illustrating a point.  Like reasons, they are often subject to interpretation.  When done well, however, they can illuminate unclear points.

5. Expert opinion

People may discount your opinion, but few will do the same for an expert in the field.  If you chance upon an authority on the subject that agrees with you, exploiting their words as a way to support your point can be very powerful.

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02

11.09

7:09

Adjectives That Should Be Adverbs And Vice Versa

Adverbs and adjectives are two of the trickiest elements of speech.  In fact, I see them misused on a daily basis and I don’t even read all that much.

Not that misusing them will be enough to bring down your whole piece.  For the most part, transgressions using adverbs and adjectives are light enough not to affect your writing too adversely.

Misusing adjectives as adverbs and vice versa happen often.  That’s because it’s very easy to confuse which word a particular modifier should change.  In many cases, in fact, people will be modifying a verb all while thinking they’re altering the meaning of the subject.

A few examples may be in order:

“She drives really bad.”  While it looks right at first glance, it’s technically wrong since “bad” modifies the verb “drives.”  As such, you should use an adverb such as “poor.”

“You should hold the iPhone horizontally when playing the game.”  Again, it sounds right, but is technically wrong.  The modifier in this case should alter the “iPhone,” not the act of “holding.”  As such, it should be written as “You should hold the iPhone horizontal/in a horizontal manner when playing the game.”

Like we said, people get away confusing adjectives and adverbs with each other all the time.  That means your grammar checking software might end up not catching a few of these instances.  Same goes for your readers, proofreaders and editors.  For the most part, they won’t really destroy the quality of your writing.  Be careful when committing the mistakes during the start and ending of each block of text, however, as they tend to affect people’s overall perception rather strongly during these sections.

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