How to Use Sentence Variety to Strengthen Your Writing

People normally talk and write using one boring sentence pattern: subject/verb, subject/verb, subject/verb…

Example: El Cielo is the most beautiful vacation spot in the world. It is located on the coast of Mexico. People arrive from many different countries to relax in luxurious surroundings. El Cielo has a great spa facility and an outstanding hotel. It is fabulous!

Subject/verb, subject/verb, subject/verb is suitable for informal, everyday talking to communicate because...

... when people talk, their facial expressions, hand gestures, and body language “strengthen” their speech.

However, when you write, you need to revise to strengthen what you say!

All writers (even adults) must use the revision stage of the writing process to vary their sentence patterns.

Don’t be a weak writer; use a variety of sentence patterns!

Question: Why should I do this? I have never bothered to do it before, and my teachers have always given me good grades in writing.

Response: Those days are over.

Problem: I can’t think of ways to revise my boring subject/verb sentences into more interesting ones.

Solution: Learn just a few new, sophisticated sentence structures. After you finish a paragraph (or your entire paper), revise some of your sentences.

Question: How many of my sentences should I revise? All of them? A few of them? One in each paragraph? What?

Answer: Revise about 1/2 of your sentences. (That’s about 3-4 per paragraph.) Then reread your paper. Revise some more if you think it would improve your paper. Reread your paper out loud. Revise even more.

Question: What are some of the best kinds of sentences to use?

Start with an –ing or –ed word. (Introductory Participial Phrase) Since –ing and –ed are verb endings, this sentence pattern starts with action!

Molly stared at the test question. She began to cry silently. Staring at the test question, Molly began to cry silently.

Serina was shocked at what her teacher said. She shook her head in disbelief. Shocked at what her teacher said, Serina shook her head in disbelief.

Using an introductory participial phrase does two things: 1. It “actions up” the start of the sentence. 2. It helps you to combine two short sentences into one longer one.

Use an appositive phrase. (Renames something) This sentence pattern helps you to combine two short sentences into one longer one.

Martie is President of the Senior Class. She works for a local attorney. Martie, the Senior Class President, works for a local attorney.

Start with an infinitive phrase (“to” plus a verb) Since an infinitive is a verb form, this sentence start is energetic and full of action.

Melek would love to go skydiving again. To go skydiving again would be Melek’s greatest dream.

Start with an introductory adverb clause (Adverb clause begins with a subordinating conjunction: when, while, until, since, because, if, after, before, although, even though, as long as, as soon as, as though, whenever...).

I finished my homework. Then I called Kyle. When I finished my homework, I called Kyle. Until I finished my homework, I could not call Kyle.

As soon as I finished my homework,… After I finished my homework,… Since I had not finished my homework,… Because I had not finished my homework,…

Compound sentence (Two short sentences connected by a comma and a conjunction: and, but, or, nor, for, yet) Compound sentences turn short, choppy sentences into longer, more interesting ones.

We went to Six Flags last week. It was exciting. We went to Six Flags last week, and it was exciting. We went to Six Flags last week, but it was boring.

Try a compound sentence with a semicolon instead of a comma/conjunction Just make sure you put an independent clause on each side of the semicolon.

We went to London this summer for our vacation. It was educational, but it was also fun. We went to London this summer for our vacation; it was educational, but it was also fun.

Start with an introductory series of prepositional phrases (from, to, with, without, of, for, about, over, under, by, in, out, up...)

I can see the lake from the tree on the hill. From the tree on the hill, I can see the lake.

Remember, speaking and writing are two very different forms of communication.

Writing is far more reflective than speaking.

Take the time to look at how you started each of your sentences. Then, take the time to revise.

Using a variety of sentences structures, you will become a much better writer!