Guide 6
 The
length of a sentence directly affects
readability
 Long, involved sentences are more
difficult to read and understand
 There are three types of sentences
• Simple sentences
• Complex sentences
• Compound sentences
A
simple sentence contains only one
idea.
• This restaurant serves delicious food.
• I particularly liked the veal roast.
• The prices were reasonable.
 The
complex sentence is used effectively
when two ideas of unequal importance
are presented.
• Although the service was slow, the restaurant
served delicious food.
 The
compound sentence is used
effectively to present two ideas of equal
importance.
 Each
idea is placed in an independent
clause joined by a conjunction.
• The restaurant served delicious food, and it was
prepared perfectly.
 The
position of words in a sentence can
change the meaning of a sentence.
 Words
that are related should be kept as
close together as possible
 Confusing
• She put the books in the office on a shelf.
 Better
• She put the books on a shelf in the office.
 Confusing
• He read the book in four hours that was 125
pages long.
 Better
• He read the 125-page book in four hours.
A
dangling modifier is a modifier that is
incorrectly placed; that is, it modified the
wrong word.
• Dangling: At the age of three, Lee taught his son
to play the piano
• BETTER: Lee taught his three-year old to play
the piano
 Equal
ideas should be expressed in the
same form. The verb form must be the
same.
 Not
parallel
• We like to eat, walking, and then taking a nap.
 Parallel
• We like to eat, to walk, and then to take a nap.
 Not
Parallel
• Our goals include quality products, meeting
deadlines, and customer satisfaction.
 Parallel
• Our goals include providing quality products,
meeting deadlines, and satisfying customers.
Not parallel
 To
use this program:
• Insert the disk in Drive A and press the enter
key.
• You should then type your password.
• When the title screen appears, press the escape
key.
Parallel:
 To
use this program:
• Insert the disk in Drive A and press the enter
key.
• Type your password next.
• Press the escape key when the title screen
appears.
 Expletives
are unneeded words
 They take space and add nothing to the
meaning of the sentence.
 It is, there is, and there are and similar
words used to begin a sentence.
• There is a letter in the file about this issue.
• A letter about this issue is in the file.