One of the abiding principles of good writing style is to maintain reader interest by creating sentence variety in numerous ways. Here I'll list just four:
Part 18: Using Passive Voice for Value, Context, Tact
- Types. The four types are declarative (I am here.), interrogative (Are you there?), imperative (Come here.), and exclamatory (I'm so glad you're here!)
- Openers. We can start a sentence in subject-verb order (Jane works for you.), a prepositional phrase (On Tuesday morning, Jane works for you.), a participial phrase (Needing money, Jane works for you.), an infinitive phrase (To make money, Jane works for you.), the subject separated from the verb (Jane, who needs money, works for you.), and other possibilities.
- Lengths. We can go short (I like learning. You like learning. Let's stay together. We will learn from each other.) or long (Since you and I like learning, let's stay together to learn from each other.)
- Syntax. Great writers mix standard sentences with comma splices, run-ons, and fragments, although I would discourage people from employing this practice in formal writing at work because comma splices, run-ons, and fragments are considered technical errors. But for that very reason, great writers use them, adding an element of surprise to their narrative. In the next example, the first sentence is standard, the second a comma splice, the third a run-on, and the last a fragment, all reflecting the high emotion of the writer: How could she do that? It was so premeditated it was so brazen. Was she toying with him, was she trying to get the reaction that he gave? On their wedding day? I'd bet you want to know what she did and how he reacted.
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Read previous posts in this series:
Part 17: Using Active Voice for Clarity, Conciseness, FluencyPart 18: Using Passive Voice for Value, Context, Tact
