1. Writing effective simple sentences

2. Joining sentence parts
Sometimes the ideas expressed by two sentences are so closely related that some words are repeated in the two sentences.
This repetition is unnecessary and awkward.
The ideas would be much better expressed if they were joined in one sentence and the repeated words were eliminated.

3. When the sentence parts express similar ideas of equal importance, they can usually be joined by and.
Ex. Carl runs the hurdles. He runs the hundred-meter dash.
Carl runs the hurdles and the hundred-meter dash.

4. When the sentence parts express contrasting ideas, they can usually be joined by but.
Ex. We found the door. We could not open it.
We found the door but could
not open it.

5. When the sentence parts express a choice between ideas, they can usually be joined by or.
Ex. Do you want enchiladas for dinner? Do you want spaghetti
for dinner?
Do you want enchiladas
or spaghetti for dinner?

6. Adding single words
Sometimes only one word in the second sentence in a pair is really important to the meaning.
All the other words in the sentence are unnecessarily repeated.
The one important word can be added to the first sentence, resulting in one sentence that is a much tighter and more effective way of expressing the ideas.

7. Ex. I like that puppy best. It is gray.
I like the gray puppy best.
Chris stared at the fender. It was dented.
Chris stared at the dented fender.

8. Adding several single words
You may be able to add several single words to a sentence.
Adding several words will allow you to combine more than two sentences if one states the main idea and each of the others adds only one important detail to the main idea.

9. Ex. Cathy told a story to a group of children. The story was thrilling. It was an adventure. The children were delighted.
Cathy told a thrilling adventure story to a group of delighted children.

10. Sometimes you will have to use a comma when you add more than one word to a sentence.
Ex. Jackson hit a home run. It was long and towering.
Jackson hit a long, towering home run.

11. Sometimes you can join the words with and.
Ex. My attention wandered during the second act. The second act was long. It was also tedious.
My attention wandered during the long and tedious second act.

12. Remember that changes in the endings of the important words may be necessary.
Ex. A building dominates the downtown area. It is made of glass. It glitters.
A glittering glass building dominates the downtown area.

13. Adding words with –ly
When you take a single important word from one sentence and insert it into another sentence, you may have to change the word so that it ends with –ly. Often, this word can be placed in several positions in the sentence.

14. Ex. My uncle visited us in Richmond. It was a brief visit.
My uncle visited us briefly in Richmond. or
My uncle visited us in Richmond
briefly.
My uncle briefly visited us in
Richmond.