CHECKLIST for EFFECTIVE SENTENCES*
Emphasis
 Make subjects and verbs of sentences focus on key actors and actions. (See LittleBrown
Essential Handbook, 7th Ed.,[LBEH7] p.31)
 Stress main ideas by placing them first or last in a sentence. (LBEH7 32)
 Link equally important ideas with coordination. (LBEH7 33)
 De-emphasize less important ideas with subordination. (LBEH7 34)
Conciseness
 Use the active voice to focus on key actors and actions. (LBEH7 35)
 Cut empty words and unneeded repetition. (LBEH7 35-36)
 Avoid unneeded there is and it is constructions. (LBEH7 36)
 Reduce word groups to their essence, and combine sentences where appropriate.
(LBEH7 36-37)
Parallelism
 Use parallel constructions to show the equivalence of elements that are connected by
and, or, not only … but also, and similar words. (LBEH7 37-38)
Variety and details
 Vary sentence lengths and structures to stress your main ideas and hold readers’
attention. (LBEH7 39-40)
 Provide details that make your sentences clear and interesting. (LBEH7 40-41)
Appropriate words
 Use language appropriate for your writing situation. (LBEH7 41-43)
 Avoid sexist and other biased language. (LBEH7 43-46)
Exact words
 Choose words that are suited to your meaning and are concrete and specific. (LBEH7 4647)
 Make words correct in idiom and also fresh, not clichéd. (LBEH7 47-48)
th
From Aaron, Jane E., Little Brown Essential Handbook, 7 Ed., Glenview, Illinois: Longman/Pearson, 2011, 30.