I've concluded the 20-part series on improving style through syntax (word order). The links to the series topics appear at the end of this post. Now I begin another 20-part series, this one on improving style through diction (word choice). To get us grounded on words, I'll start with a quick review of the eight parts of speech, which I'll be discussing in segments of this series.
The eight parts of speech fall into four broad categories: basics (nouns, pronouns, and verbs), modifiers (adjective and adverbs), connectors (prepositions and conjunctions), and interrupters (interjections).
This sentence uses every part of speech:
1. Noun (Kay, Eve, university, program, California). A person (Kay, Eve), place (California), or thing (university, program)
2. Pronoun (I, you, its). A stand-in for a noun (I replaces me, Philip Vassallo) you replaces Kay, and its replaces the name of the university).
3. Verb (are, accepted). An action (accepted) or state of being (are).
MODIFIERS
4. Adjective (excited, a, respected). A qualifier of a noun or pronoun (excited qualifies the noun Eve and the pronoun I, and respected qualifies noun university).
5. Adverb (very, highly, so, quickly). A qualifier of a verb, adjective, or another adverb (very qualifies the adjective excited, highly qualifies the adjective respected), quickly qualifies the verb accepted, and so qualifies the adverb quickly).
CONNECTORS
6. Preposition (in, into). A connector showing the relationship between a noun, pronoun or noun phrase and other parts of a sentence (in connects the nouns university and California and into connects the verb accepted and the noun program).
7. Conjunction (and, that). A connector of any part of speech as well as phrases and clauses to coordinate ideas (and connects Eve and I, and that connects everything before it, except Wow, Kay, and everything after it.
INTERRUPTERS
8. Interjection (Wow). An expression of surprise or emotion that does not function as any of other seven parts of speech.
A good way to see how word choice affects style is through Constance Hale's book Sin and Syntax: How to Create Wicked Good Prose.
Part 20: Valuing Repetition
The eight parts of speech fall into four broad categories: basics (nouns, pronouns, and verbs), modifiers (adjective and adverbs), connectors (prepositions and conjunctions), and interrupters (interjections).
This sentence uses every part of speech:
Wow, Kay—Eve and I are very excited that a highly respected university in California accepted you so quickly into its program.BASICS
1. Noun (Kay, Eve, university, program, California). A person (Kay, Eve), place (California), or thing (university, program)
2. Pronoun (I, you, its). A stand-in for a noun (I replaces me, Philip Vassallo) you replaces Kay, and its replaces the name of the university).
3. Verb (are, accepted). An action (accepted) or state of being (are).
MODIFIERS
4. Adjective (excited, a, respected). A qualifier of a noun or pronoun (excited qualifies the noun Eve and the pronoun I, and respected qualifies noun university).
5. Adverb (very, highly, so, quickly). A qualifier of a verb, adjective, or another adverb (very qualifies the adjective excited, highly qualifies the adjective respected), quickly qualifies the verb accepted, and so qualifies the adverb quickly).
CONNECTORS
6. Preposition (in, into). A connector showing the relationship between a noun, pronoun or noun phrase and other parts of a sentence (in connects the nouns university and California and into connects the verb accepted and the noun program).
7. Conjunction (and, that). A connector of any part of speech as well as phrases and clauses to coordinate ideas (and connects Eve and I, and that connects everything before it, except Wow, Kay, and everything after it.
INTERRUPTERS
8. Interjection (Wow). An expression of surprise or emotion that does not function as any of other seven parts of speech.
A good way to see how word choice affects style is through Constance Hale's book Sin and Syntax: How to Create Wicked Good Prose.
***
Read previous posts on improving style through syntax:
Part 17: Using Active Voice for Clarity, Conciseness, Fluency
Part 18: Using Passive Voice for Value, Context, Tact
Part 19: Valuing VarietyPart 18: Using Passive Voice for Value, Context, Tact
Part 20: Valuing Repetition
