Varying Your Sentences

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Varying Your Sentences

• 4 Easy Tips for Improving Your Writing Style

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Tip 1 Change the Sentence TYPE

• NORMAL WORD ORDER
• The MHS Program has many benefits.
• QUESTION RATHER THAN STATEMENT
• What are the benefits of the MHS Program?

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Tip 2 Change Sentence Beginning

• NORMAL WORD ORDER Sentence starts with subject
• I dont like to study grammar.
• Instead
• Start with a transitional word
• Surprisingly, I dont like to study grammar.
• Or a prepositional phrase
• To tell the truth, I dont like to study grammar.

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Tip 3 Combine Sentences
The conference takes place every May. It is a
great place to learn new counseling approaches.
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Use Coordinating Conjunctions
Original The conference takes place every May.
It is a great place to learn new counseling
approaches. The conference takes place every
May, and it is a great place to learn new
counseling approaches.
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Use Compound Subject or Verb
Original The conference takes place every May.
It is a great place to learn new counseling
approaches. The conference takes place every May
and is a great place to learn new counseling
approaches.
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Use Subordinating Conjunctions
Original The conference takes place every May.
It is a great place to learn new counseling
approaches. Because the conference takes place
every May, it is a great place to learn new
counseling approaches.
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Use Relative Pronouns (who, which, that)
Original The conference takes place every May.
It is a great place to learn new counseling
approaches. The conference, which takes place
every May, is a great place to learn new
counseling approaches.
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Use an Appositive
Original The conference takes place every May.
It is a great place to learn new counseling
approaches. The conference, a great place to
learn new counseling approaches, takes place
every May.
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Use Present or Past Participle
Original The conference takes place every May.
It is a great place to learn new counseling
approaches. Taking place every May, the
conference is a great place to learn new
counseling approaches. Held every May, the
conference is a great place to learn new
counseling approaches.
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Tip 4 Vary Sentence Lengths
Two equal sentences Grammar isnt the main
pleasure in my life. The main pleasure in my life
is writing. Short sentence added for
emphasis Grammar isnt the main pleasure in my
life. Writing is.
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Remember, writing is a process, not a one-step
activity. Save lots of time for editing. As one
author said, There is no good writing, only good
re-writing.