Writing Effective Sentences: Basic Sentence Faults | Communicatin Skill Notes | Agriculture Notes

Effective writing begins at the sentence level. A well-crafted sentence communicates ideas clearly, maintains grammatical integrity, and engages the reader. This chapter examines the fundamental principles of sentence construction and addresses common faults that undermine clarity and effectiveness.

Principles of Effective Sentences

Before addressing common faults, it's essential to understand what makes a sentence effective. Strong sentences exhibit several key characteristics:

Clarity: The sentence's meaning should be immediately apparent to the reader. Avoid ambiguity and ensure that subjects, verbs, and objects are clearly related.

Unity: Each sentence should express one main idea or closely related ideas. When multiple unrelated thoughts appear in a single sentence, readers become confused.

Coherence: The parts of a sentence should fit together logically, with clear relationships between phrases and clauses.

Emphasis: Important ideas should occupy prominent positions—typically the beginning or end of the sentence—while subordinate ideas should be properly subordinated.

Basic Sentence Faults

1. Sentence Fragments

A sentence fragment is an incomplete sentence punctuated as though it were complete. Fragments lack either a subject, a verb, or fail to express a complete thought despite having both.

Incorrect:

Because the storm knocked out power throughout the neighborhood.

This is a dependent clause masquerading as a sentence. It leaves readers asking "what happened?"

Correct:

Because the storm knocked out power throughout the neighborhood, residents used candles and flashlights.

Or: The storm knocked out power throughout the neighborhood.

Tip: Fragments are sometimes used intentionally for stylistic effect in creative writing. However, in academic and professional writing, they should be avoided unless you have a specific rhetorical purpose.

2. Run-On Sentences and Comma Splices

Run-on sentences occur when two or more independent clauses are joined without proper punctuation or conjunctions. A comma splice is a specific type of run-on where independent clauses are joined with only a comma.

Run-On:

The experiment failed we need to revise our hypothesis.

Comma Splice:

The experiment failed, we need to revise our hypothesis.

Correct Options:

The experiment failed. We need to revise our hypothesis. (Two sentences)

The experiment failed; we need to revise our hypothesis. (Semicolon)

The experiment failed, so we need to revise our hypothesis. (Comma + coordinating conjunction)

Because the experiment failed, we need to revise our hypothesis. (Subordination)

3. Faulty Parallelism

Parallelism requires that sentence elements performing similar functions maintain the same grammatical form. Faulty parallelism disrupts sentence rhythm and clarity.

Incorrect:

The manager values punctuality, dedication, and workers who are honest.

This sentence mixes two nouns with a noun clause, creating imbalance.

Correct:

The manager values punctuality, dedication, and honesty.

All three items are now nouns, creating parallel structure.

4. Dangling Modifiers

A dangling modifier is a phrase that doesn't clearly and logically modify any element in the sentence, often creating unintentionally humorous meanings.

Incorrect:

After studying all night, the exam was easy.

This suggests the exam studied all night, which is illogical.

Correct:

After studying all night, Maria found the exam easy.

Now it's clear who studied all night.

5. Misplaced Modifiers

Misplaced modifiers are positioned in a sentence in a way that makes the meaning unclear or illogical. Unlike dangling modifiers, the word being modified is present but in the wrong location.

Incorrect:

She nearly earned $500 in tips last week.

Does this mean she almost earned money but didn't, or that she earned almost $500?

Correct:

She earned nearly $500 in tips last week.

The modifier "nearly" is now clearly modifying the amount.

6. Faulty Subject-Verb Agreement

Subjects and verbs must agree in number. Errors often occur with compound subjects, collective nouns, or when phrases separate the subject from the verb.

Incorrect:

The list of required materials are posted online.

The subject is "list" (singular), not "materials" (plural).

Correct:

The list of required materials is posted online.

7. Faulty Pronoun Reference

Pronouns must clearly refer to a specific antecedent. Ambiguous or vague pronoun references confuse readers.

Incorrect:

When Sarah spoke to Maria, she seemed upset.

Who was upset—Sarah or Maria?

Correct:

Sarah seemed upset when she spoke to Maria.

Or: When Sarah spoke to Maria, Maria seemed upset.

8. Mixed Constructions

Mixed constructions occur when a sentence begins with one grammatical structure but shifts to another incompatible structure midway through.

Incorrect:

By practicing daily is how you improve your skills.

This mixes a prepositional phrase with a linking verb construction.

Correct:

By practicing daily, you improve your skills.

Or: Practicing daily is how you improve your skills.

9. Faulty Predication

Faulty predication occurs when a subject and predicate don't logically fit together, often involving the verb "to be" in constructions like "is when" or "is where."

Incorrect:

Plagiarism is when you use someone else's work without attribution.

Correct:

Plagiarism is the use of someone else's work without attribution.

Or: Plagiarism occurs when you use someone else's work without attribution.

10. Excessive Wordiness

While not strictly a grammatical error, wordiness undermines sentence effectiveness by burying ideas in unnecessary words.

Wordy:

Due to the fact that it was raining, the game was postponed to a later date.

Concise:

Because it was raining, the game was postponed.

Strategies for Revision

Identifying and correcting sentence faults requires careful attention during the revision process. Consider these strategies:

1. Read aloud: Hearing your sentences helps identify awkward constructions, run-ons, and fragments that might escape visual detection.
2. Isolate sentences: Read each sentence independently to ensure it expresses a complete thought and stands on its own.
3. Check for subjects and verbs: Identify the subject and verb of each clause. Ensure they exist, agree, and relate logically.
4. Examine modifiers: For every modifying phrase, identify what it modifies and confirm the relationship is clear and logical.
5. Test pronoun references: For each pronoun, identify its antecedent. If you can't immediately determine what a pronoun refers to, neither can your reader.
6. Look for patterns: Once you've identified your common errors, specifically check for those patterns in future writing.

Conclusion

Mastering sentence construction is fundamental to effective writing. While the faults discussed in this chapter represent common pitfalls, avoiding them is only the beginning. The goal is not merely to write correct sentences, but to craft sentences that communicate ideas with clarity, precision, and style. Through careful attention to sentence structure during both drafting and revision, writers develop the technical foundation necessary for powerful, persuasive prose.