1. GRA 613 Style

2. Clarity and concision Avoid complexity in sentences and vocabulary Vary your sentences; long and short Consider accessibility to the reader Relevance STYLE: clarity and conciseness Simplicity in sentences Direct/ straight forward Avid complex and lengthy sentences Brief and to the point

3. Techniques Parallel structure- sentence elements with similar grammatical form Parallelism-creates balance or symmetry examples of these elements And, but,or, for, both…and, neither…nor, not only…but also Example: her frequent absences and poor motivation caused her to fail

4. This paper will discuss [1] trade policy considerations, [2] the use of trade policy in developing countries and [3] how advanced countries apply strategic policy

5. No parallelism This conference will focus on [1] trade policy considerations [2] the use of trade policy in developing countries and [3] the application of strategic trade policy in advanced countries. Notice that number 3 lacks parallelism Whereas number 1 and 2 use noun phrases, number 3 begins with a relative clause

6. Academic papers Should be: Formal Concise Well organised

7. Write a parallel sentence for each of the following: 1. My business was both -------------and-------- The lectures were not only……….but also…….. --------is more effective than-------------------

8. coordination Achieved by combining simple sentences or two complete thoughts using conjunctions Examples of coordinating conjunctions And, or, but, yet, so, for Their purpose is to join Never begin sentences with them Ex. The accountant checked the financial documents, but he could not find the mistake

9. subordination Types Subordinating conjunctions (although, because, if, unless, when, whereas Form complex sentences Subordinate clause Precedes or follows a main clause Subordination is achieved when we use conjunctions that turn one sentence into a dependent clause

10. The computer is a calculating device. It was once known as a mechanical brain. It has revolutionised society. This is a string of sentences Sounds monotonous Can be revised to remove the repetitive nature as follows: The computer, a calculating device once known as a mechanical brain, has revolutionised society.

11. Types of clauses Independent or main clause Expresses a complete idea or thought Has a subject and a verb Can stand alone Subordinate or dependent clause Introduced by a subordinating word or phrase Examples: when, despite, although, after… Although the exam was tough Had a subject exam and verbs ‘was tough’

12. Cont’ Note the group of words is incomplete; i.e it does not express complete thought Add a main clause: Although the exam was tough, Jane passed. Jane passed is a main clause and expresses complete thought

13. Ideas are made less important (subordinated) An idea can be subordinated into: 1. A dependent clause: Example without subordination: The student started a business of rearing rabbits. He has become a millionaire With subordination: The student who started a business of rearing rabbits has become a millionaire.

14. A phrase Without a subordinate phrase: Safaricom now employs over 500 people. It was founded more than ten years ago. With a subordinate phrase: A phrase: Safaricom, founded more than ten years ago, now employs over 500 people. Note the two comas setting off the clause

15. Single modifier Without subordination: The landscape designer’s report was extensively illustrated. It covered ten pages. Single modifier: The landscape designer’s ten- page report was extensively illustrated.

16. Introductory words and phrases Use a coma after introductory words and phrases example: 1. Sales have been good recently Recently, sales have been good. 2. You must commit yourself to lifetime learning to advance in your career. To advance in your career, you must commit yourself to life learning

17. Fortunately, we found that these groups are as healthy as others. Exceptions to this rule: Omit a coma after: now, thus, and hence

18. 3. She found several factual errors while reading the report. While reading the report, she found several factual errors.

19. Common errors Sentence fragments: While waiting for the computer to boot up… Among my fast selling products are electronic things, household goods, and farm equipment. Which the businessman often does, although I don’t approve All the banks situated in the city centre (only a subject)

20. While the government was regulating prices A long Kenyatta Avenue Meaning of a sentence fragment: It is one that is treated like a whole sentence hence punctuated like a whole sentence.

21. punctuation No semicolon at the end of an introductory element. No coma after a subordinating conjunction E.g. wrong: Although, the practice of punctuation is not complicate, it is rarely mastered. No coma after coordinating conjunction. Wrong: But, we cannot know whether life on other planets realises that we are here and simply prefers to ignore us.

22. Misplaced modifiers When a sentence is phrased in a way the modifier does not modify the subject Opening the software package, the programme disks and assorted manuals should be checked to see if anything is missing. The modifier-”opening the software package” modifies “the programme disk and assorted manuals.” While selling the wares, the products got stolen

23. Correct: After opening the software package, check the programme disks and assorted manuals to see if anything is missing Now the phrase “after opening the software package, “ modifies the implied subject ‘you’

24. Run on or fused sentences When two independent clauses are fused together. These sentences are usually long and complex The traders staged a demonstration the police arrested them. The students held their elections they elected a business student as their president. You need a period, a conjunction or a semicolon after demonstration and elections respectively

25. Coma splice Occurs when two independent clauses are joined together using a coma rather than a period, a coordinating conjuction, or a semicolon. Example: Insert the first programme disk into the disk drive, run the setup.exe file The economy was destroyed, the poor people suffered a lot. The stock market was experiencing problems, share holders lost confidence in it.