Syntax
- 1. Crafting effective sentences and paragraphs
- 2. Going from thinking to writing Writing is not the same as thinking out loud. There is another stage involved after thinking, in which words are sifted and selected, and then crafted and combined, in order to create a memorable impression. In this process, each sentence…is both designed and built by the writer. Good sentences do not just happen: there is no such thing as an automatic flow of writing. John Peck and Martin Coyle, The Student's Guide to Writing
- 3. Your aim "Words are our trade. It is not enough to get the news. We must be able to put it across. Meaning must be unmistakable, and it must also be succinct. Every word must be understood by the ordinary reader, every sentence must be clear at one glance". Harold Evans, former editor of The Times and the Sunday Times Essential English for Journalists, Editors and Writers
- 4. Understanding syntax The arrangement of words in a sentence. From the Greek, "arrange together".
- 5. What are the basic components of a sentence?
- 8. Simple sentence construction At the most basic level, sentences must include a subject and a verb and may have an object. A subject is the thing or person being described A verb expresses an action Sentences may also contain an object, which is the thing or person affected by the action described in the verb .
- 9. Simple sentence examples I (subject) walk (verb) I (subject) walk (verb) the dog (object)
- 10. Different types of sentences
- 11. Simple A simple sentence contains only one verb. He ran up the hill.
- 12. Compound A compound sentence contains two or more main verbs and is made up of two sentences joined using a conjunction (while, and, but, etc.) He ran up the hill while she waited at the bottom.
- 13. Independent clauses An independent clause is a complete sentence. The house stands on top of the hill.
- 14. Dependent clauses A dependent (also known as ‘subordinate’) clause is a related part of a sentence that does not express a complete thought on its own. The house, which was built in 1970, stands on top of the hill.
- 15. Complex sentences A complex sentence contains one or more main verbs and one or more subsidiary verbs. He ran up the hill while she waited at the bottom and timed him using a stopwatch.
- 16. Combining sentences Sentences can be combined using connecting words called conjunctions, e.g. ‘but’, ‘and’, ‘or’, etc. John likes reading but his wife prefers to watch TV.
- 17. Some common conjunctions (joining words)
- 18. What can go wrong?
- 19. Commas not conjunctions Sentences are combined using commas rather than conjunctions to separate them. John reads, Jane likes to listen to the radio
- 20. Fragmented sentences Sentences do not make sense in their own right because they are disconnected from the main clause. These are called fragmented sentences I like puddings. Including cakes, trifles and ice cream.
- 21. Pleonasms Sentences become over-long and full of unnecessary words which may mean the same thing. These are called pleonasms It is absolutely necessary and essential that you attend this meeting.
- 22. Run-on sentences Two sentences are wrongly made into one because they are not separated by some kind of punctuation mark. These are called run-on sentences He only told me he was coming today he should have told me yesterday.
- 23. Mixed tenses Verb tenses are mixed People who were living in the refugee camps are not able to get enough to eat.
- 24. Questions Can you start a sentences with 'And' or ‘But’? It is grammatically correct to start sentences ‘And’ or ‘But.’ Both are commonly used for dramatic impact in news writing.
- 25. And The commission says 10 million people are not saving into any pension scheme. And those who are in a scheme often get charged too much for a service that is inefficient.
- 26. But When John Stafford left his house on the morning of 6 July 1979, he believed his wife and daughter would be waiting for him at the bus station. But just an hour later, he received a phone call telling him that they were dead.
- 27. Questions Active or passive? Which of these intros makes you sit up and take notice? . “There were riots in several towns in Northern England last night, in which police clashed with stone-throwing youths.” (passive) “‘Youths throwing stones clashed with police during riots in several towns in Northern England last night.” (active) Active voice - A does B Passive voice - B is done (usually by A)
- 28. Questions Can I end a sentence with a preposition? Debatable, according to grammarians. But for journalism try and avoid it where possible.
- 29. Some common prepositions (words that indicate time/location)
- 30. How not to use a preposition to end a sentence The new policy was something the Prime Minister had not previously thought of. Sentences that end in prepositions can sound clumsy so try and avoid it. This sentence does not flow and the term 'thought of' is colloquial.' The word 'considered' could replace the last two words.
- 31. When should I start a new paragraph? You should start a new paragraph when you have a fresh point to make. Paragraphs must be used to present information in a logical and interesting way.
- 32. Paragraph length - news In journalism, short paragraphs are used because the text is laid out in columns. Journalists also use concise paragraphs to hold reader’s attention, particularly when writing for the web. A man has died and his wife has been seriously injured during an attack by a horse in Lancashire. They were towing a horse box on the A56 in Haslingden on Wednesday evening when the horse became agitated, police said. (BBC NEWS website)
- 33. Paragraph length – academic writing In academic writing, longer paragraphs are used to display information and develop ideas and arguments.
- 34. Paragraph writing tips - Pay close attention to how you order information. What does your reader need to know and when? - Always start a new paragraph when you are quoting a new person. - Don’t introduce a new subject at the end of a paragraph about something else. - Ensure your paragraphs are all roughly of similar length. - Make sure transitions between paragraphs are smooth.
- 35. Five questions to consider when crafting sentences and paragraphs - Is this a sentence? - Am I in control of the different elements of the sentence (clauses, etc) - Have I got the words in the right order? - Does each sentence lead on from the sentence before? - Do the separate sentences combine to form an effective paragraph?