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SOCC Writing Center
Style: Sentence Variety
A writer uses variety in terms of (1) sentence length and (2) sentence
type in order to add reader interest by varying the rhythm of the sentence;
by controlling the reader’s breath, intonation, and delivery;
and by emphasizing ideas.
- Controlling Sentence Length
One of the best stylistic options a writer may exploit is sentence length.
- First take one of your essays and count the number of words in each
sentence. Mark the number in the margin of your essay. A piece of writing
which reveals a broad range in numbers helps secure your reader’s
interest because the varying length in the sentences themselves will
help eliminate predictability and will require different levels of
concentration on the part of your reader. Your reader will not be lulled
to “sleep” by a strident repetition of stressed and unstressed
syllables.
- A paragraph with lots of sentence length variety will be counted
as something like the following: 5, 18, 35, 10, 15, 8. Consider the
following paragraph:
Skydiving! Notice the skydiver as she leaps from the open hatch of the
airplane, drawing her arms and legs into a ball, bulleting through the
loud air, dropping toward the horizon which spins dizzily below her,
laughing goodbye! to any cares she left behind at the lip of the airplane’s
open hatch. Stretching her fingers, arms, neck, and legs as far as she
can, channeling the wind so that she can turn left or right, and approaching
the other divers, she clasps hand with them in a circle. They fall free.
Count the number of words in each sentence. Notice that the first word, “Skydiving!” is
a one word sentence called a “virtual sentence.” In the paragraph
above the reader almost steps off the airplane at exactly that point
in the sentence at which the skydiver does. The reader then spins into
a series of adverbial modifiers.
- In order to add variety in terms of sentence length, you may combine
one or more sentences into one sentence. Or you may divide a long sentence
into several short sentences. You’ll learn a lot about your own
voice and control of tone when you revise your pieces of writing with
this stylistic concern in mind.
Try revising the above paragraph by dividing or recombining the sentences.
Notice how the emphasis is changed each time you rewrite a sentence.
- Sentence Styles
Writers use different styles of sentences in order to shift emphasis and
so control the reader’s experience and interpretation. The above
example paragraph begins with a virtual sentence (use sparingly).
The second sentence is a cumulative sentence, an independent clause followed
by a series of modifiers. The modifiers refer directly back to the actions
of the subject.
The third sentence is a periodic sentence, a series of modifiers followed
by the independent clause. The periodic sentence delays completing the main
thought until the end, so it holds the reader in suspense. The momentum of
this sentence delivers the reader up to the statement in the independent
clause. At this point the reader should feel a bit breathless.
The final sentence is a short simple independent clause.
- Sentence variety
A writer offers sentence variety in order to keep her or his readers interested
and awake. One way to achieve variety is to combine sentences, either using
a comma and a coordinating conjunction or by subordinating one clause to
another. You may also combine sentences by omitting words. For example,
the two sentences following may be combined a number of different ways:
Percy often travels abroad. Juan prefers to remain in France.
Comma and coordinating conjunction: Percy often travels Abroad, but Juan
prefers to remain in France.
Subordinating one clause to another: While Percy travels Abroad, Juan prefers
to remain in France.
Adapted from Candice Favilla handout
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