How to Use Sentence Variety to “Sweeten Up”

Your Writing

People normally talk and write using one

boring sentence pattern:

subject/verbsubject/verb

subject/verb . . .

Example: I have an adorable dog named Rosa. She is a little brown dachshund with beautiful eyes. Rosa sleeps on the couch most of the day. I throw her toy for her every day after school. My little dog is the cutest pet in the entire world!

Subject/verb, subject/verb,

subject/verb is suitable for

informal, everyday talking to communicate

because . . .

. . . when you are

talking, your facial

expressions, hand

gestures, and body language “sweeten up” your speech.

However, when you write, you need to

revise to “sweeten up” what you say!

All writers -- even

professional writers -- must use the revision

stage of the writing process

to vary their sentence patterns.

Use a variety of sentence patterns!

Problem:

I can’t think of ways to revise my

boring subject/verb sentences into fancy

ones.

Solution:

Learn just a few different “fancy”

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:Start by revising about 1/2 of your

sentences. (That’s about 2-3 per paragraph.)

Then reread your paper. Revise some more if you think it would improve your

paper.

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!

Sam looked down the dark

hallway. He tried to imagine what could

be hiding there.

Looking down the dark hallway, Sam tried to imagine what could be hiding there.

Katie was amazed at the size of the crocodile. She tiptoed away from the edge of the river.

Amazed at the size of the crocodile, Katie tiptoed away from the edge of the river.

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.

Allie is the captain of the volleyball team. She is the

best player.

Allie, the captain of the volleyball team, is the school’s best

player.

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.

Colin would love to go kayaking

in Colorado.

To go kayaking in Colorado

would be Colin’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 Kelly.

When I finished my homework, I called

Kelly.Until I finished my homework, I could

not call Kelly.

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 a movie last night. It was

exciting.

We went to a movie last night, and it was

exciting.We went to a movie last night, but it was

boring.

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!

How sweet!