Easy English Writing Tips
Include Varying Sentences

There are many tips for crafting stories. Learning these presented below will give your writing a more professional touch. Writing the same sentence length will become boring to the reader, making it the last thing you want her to feel. Her reading experience should be one of enjoyment. When you know what can interfere with her reading pleasure, you will want to correct it. These easy English writing tips will make sure you’re on the right path.

To keep your writing professional, Purdue Owl tells us that “Adding sentence variety to prose can give it life and rhythm. Too many sentences with the same structure and length can grow monotonous for readers. Varying sentence style and structure can also reduce repetition and add emphasis (“Variation - Purdue OWL® - Purdue University”). 

Read more about Varying Sentences at Purdue OWL

Engagement with the reader is one of your goals as a writer. Varying sentence structure in prose does exactly that. Continue to follow these easy English writing tips.

Let’s look at examples of varying sentences, some short and some a little longer:

Joshua skipped to the store. He bought candy. Joshua ate it on the way home. 

Notice that these sentences are generally the same length, between three and seven words. At least one sentence should be much longer, as we shall see soon. Also, notice that the sentences start with a subject and verb:

Joshua skipped 

He bought

Joshua ate

While using a subject and verb twice in a row is fine, take care not to go over this amount. Avoid redundancy. In other words, the sentence that follows Joshua skipped and He bought, should not be an opening sentence with subject and verb and should be longer.

Joshua skipped to the store. He bought candy. On the way home, Joshua ate it all due to his passion for sweets.

Of course, you can vary either of the shorter sentences. It does not have to be the third one. Here is a sentence variation using the first sentence.

Despite having a swollen foot, Joshua skipped to the store. He bought candy. Joshua ate it on the way home.

Likewise, the middle sentence can vary.

Joshua skipped to the store. Despite already having not one, but two teeth with cavities, he bought candy. Joshua ate it on the way home.

Note that shorter sentences can create a punch and instill a sense of urgency. 

She stumbled. But he ran.

Longer sentences give detailed descriptions, thereby offering clarifying information.

She stumbled over the rocks in the canyon trying to catch up with the dog, but he ran faster and faster, enjoying the game of catch-me-if-you-can.

Let’s see how Stephen King varies his sentences:

Varying sentence structures are key ingredients of prose writing. Understanding this balance keeps monotony at bay.

Easy English Writing Tips Include
Varying Sentence Openings

Despite the subject and verb openings that we have discussed, there are other openings we should be aware of, such as the simple words The and It. We might get into the habit of using them too much without realizing it. But our readers will remember because it will create boredom.

Let’s look at these examples:

The picture of Molly was captivating. The colored frame punctuated her eyes. The light from the window encircled Molly’s head as if to provide a halo.

It was long ago. It was around the time the stocking factory closed. It was the last time anyone saw Molly even though the small town where she lived was known to be safe and welcoming.

Remember to avoid using the same openings such as The and It three times in a row.

Learning these easy English writing tips will help you avoid redundancy and prompt you to rephrase sentences, thereby, giving your writing a polished touch.

It may be a challenge to write prose when the subject is yourself. And while it is acceptable to use I more often, you can still vary your sentences.

Varying sentence length can improve the meaning of your writing. For instance, when asked to write about your interests, you can use I, me, and my, without over-using them.

I paint animal pictures. I’m captivated by the animals of Sub-Saharan Africa. My love of painting began when I was six, and my fascination with wild animals began when my parents took me to the zoo, which was around that time. The raw fierceness of these animals is awe-inspiring. Working with mixed media, I bring the animals to life. 

In conclusion, varying sentence openings ensure your prose does not become predictable. It’s crucial to avoid the repetitive rhythm of using several sentences with the subject and verb. Likewise, using the words The, It, and I, constantly detracts from your message and causes your reader to pause, disconnecting them from what should be an entertaining and informative message. 

Short sentences point to urgency. Longer sentences give more details. Hopefully, these easy English writing tips will help you along your writing journey. 

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