Writing a First Draft With Powerful Sentences
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Author: Ryan Smith
The most compelling and effective messages contain a variety of sentence patterns and avoid common sentence faults. You can create successful messages with sentence variety by understanding the four sentence types, controlling the length of your sentences, and avoiding fragments, run-ons, and comma splices.
Identify the correct pattern of a complex sentence.
- An independent clause and a dependent clause
- Two independent clauses joined by a conjunction, a semicolon, or a conjunctive adverb
- One independent clause with a subject and a predicate verb
Identify the sentence pattern of the following sentence.
Since Prisha proofread the recommendation report, you should finish the slide deck for the presentation.
- Simple
- Complex
- Compound-complex
Sentence length also impacts the reception of your message.
Complete the following sentence.
Controlling sentence length will help the of your message.
The three most common sentence errors are fragments, run-ons, and comma splices. If you can identify the common types of sentence errors, you will be more likely to avoid making them.
Read the following selections and identify the sentence error.
Cell phones enhance communication with colleagues, furthermore they overcome barriers imposed by time or space.
- Run-on
- Comma splice
- Fragment
Avoiding the most common sentence faults helps you maintain professional credibility and craft more effective messages.
Select the correct version of each pair of the following sentences.
- Local markets have become saturated, so companies now look to other countries for further expansion.
- Local markets have become saturated companies now look to other countries for further expansion.
View Explanation
Run-on sentences (fused sentences) lack an appropriate connecting conjunction (and, or, nor, but, or so) or a semicolon. You can also repair a run-on by punctuating it as two separate sentences.
- If you can write well; you can represent your company well.
- If you can write well, you can represent your company well.
View Explanation
A sentence fragment is an incomplete sentence. Fragments can often be identified by the words that introduce them—words such as although, as, because, even, except, for example, if, instead of, since, so, such as, that, which, and when. These words often introduce dependent clauses. Make sure such clauses are always connected to independent clauses, with a comma if needed. (A semicolon can only be used to connect two independent clauses.)
- Employees today are hired for their knowledge as well as their ability to learn new things.
- Employees today are hired for their knowledge. As well as their ability to learn new things.
View Explanation
A sentence fragment is an incomplete sentence. Fragments can often be identified by the words that introduce them—words such as although, as, because, even, except, for example, if, instead of, since, so, such as, that, which, and when. These words often introduce dependent clauses. Make sure such clauses are always connected to independent clauses, with a comma if needed. (A semicolon can only be used to connect two independent clauses.)
- The communication process works fluidly, it moves from one step to the next often without pause.
- The communication process works fluidly; it moves from one step to the next often without pause.
View Explanation
A comma splice results when a writer joins two independent clauses with a comma. Independent clauses may be joined with a semicolon, a coordinating conjunction (and, or, nor, but, or so), or a conjunctive adverb (however, consequently, or therefore). Clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction require a comma. Clauses joined by a coordinating adverb require a semicolon. You can also repair a comma splice by punctuating it as two separate sentences.
- Convey your ideas clearly use precise wording.
- Convey your ideas clearly, and use precise wording.
View Explanation
Run-on sentences (fused sentences) lack an appropriate connecting conjunction (and, or, nor, but, or so) or a semicolon. You can also repair a run-on by punctuating it as two separate sentences.
