10 Varieties of Syntax to Improve Your Writing

10 Varieties of Syntax to Improve Your Writing 10 Varieties of Syntax to Improve Your Writing 10 Varieties of Syntax to Improve Your Writing By Mark Nichol English is a remarkably flexible language in terms of syntax, because a simple statement can be rendered in so many ways. Take, for example, the statement â€Å"I went for a walk,† and consider all the ways you can attach the additional information included in the statement, â€Å"I saw a dinosaur.† Here are just some of the most basic of many variations in syntactical organization: 1. Write the statements as consecutive sentences: â€Å"I went for a walk. I saw a dinosaur.† 2. Add the second statement to the first as a dependent clause: â€Å"I went for a walk and saw a dinosaur.† (The second statement does not stand on its own.) 3. Add the second statement to the first as an independent clause: â€Å"I went for a walk, and I saw a dinosaur.† (The second statement stands on its own, which means it can be separated into two sentences, as in the first example.) 4. Begin the sentence with a dependent marker that turns the initial statement into a modifying phrase that expands on the second statement: â€Å"While I was walking, I saw a dinosaur.† 5. Begin with the second statement and reword the first statement as a modifying phrase that follows it: â€Å"I saw a dinosaur on my walk this morning.† 6. Insert a nonessential phrase, which must be bracketed by commas, one of two ways: Locate the phrase between a pair of independent clauses (but after the coordinating conjunction), each consisting of one of the two statements: â€Å"I went for a walk and, to my surprise, I saw a dinosaur.† (Notice that â€Å"to my surprise,† which can be omitted without altering the sentence’s meaning, modifies the second statement and so must follow and; note, too, that the comma preceding the coordinating conjunction can be omitted.) Or, separate two statements with a nonessential phrase inserted before the coordinating conjunction: â€Å"I went for a walk, following my usual route, and I saw a dinosaur.† (Notice that â€Å"following my usual route,† which also does not alter the sentence’s meaning if it is omitted, modifies the first statement and so must precede and.) 7. Emphasize a nonessential phrase by bracketing it with em dashes to indicate an interruption of thought: â€Å"I went for a walk and no, I was not hallucinating I saw a dinosaur.† (Alternatively, to deemphasize the phrase, or for humorous effect, enclose it in parentheses.) 8. Insert an essential clause one whose absence would alter the meaning the sentence between two statements: â€Å"I went for a walk that followed my usual route and saw a dinosaur.† 9. Attach a variation of the second statement to the first, preceded by a semicolon when the second statement is an independent clause that is nevertheless closely associated with the first one: â€Å"I went for a walk; a dinosaur was grazing along my route.† 10. Separate two statements with a semicolon when the second statement is preceded by an adverb or an adverbial phrase, which requires a subsequent comma: â€Å"I went for a walk; unexpectedly, I saw a dinosaur along the way.† It is this rich variety of word and phrase order and variation in punctuation that makes prose fiction or nonfiction readable. As you review your writing, make sure that you vary sentence structure among these and other constructions to create a pleasant reading experience devoid of lockstep syntax questionable enough for a Dick-and-Jane reading level, and deadly for more sophisticated readers. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Grammar category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Definitely use "the" or "a"Latin Plural Endings48 Writing Prompts for Middle School Kids

Saint Josephs University Admissions - What It Takes

Saint Josephs University Admissions - What It Takes Saint Josephs University in Philadelphia admits over 78  percent of the applicants. Students with good grades and a strong application are likely to be admitted. To learn about the school, including application requirements and deadlines, be sure to visit the schools website, or get in touch with the admissions office at Saint Josephs. SJU is test-optional, so applicants are not required to submit SAT or ACT scores. They will need to send in an application and high school transcripts, however. Calculate your chances of getting in with this free tool from Cappex. Admissions Data (2016) Saint Josephs University Acceptance Rate: 78  percentTest Scores 25th / 75th PercentileSAT Critical Reading: 520 / 610SAT Math: 530 / 620What these SAT numbers meanACT Composite: 23  / 28ACT English: 23  / 29ACT Math: 23  / 27What these ACT numbers meanGPA, SAT and ACT Graph for Saint Josephs: SJU is test-optional, but you can see data from Cappex on test scores. International students from non-English speaking countries must submit either a TOEFL or SAT/ACT language to show English proficiency.SAT comparison for Catholic collegesACT comparison for Catholic collegesAtlantic 10 Conference SAT score comparisonAtlantic 10 Conference ACT score comparison Saint Josephs University Description Located on a 103-acre campus in western Philadelphia and Montgomery Country, Saint Josephs University is a highly-regarded private Catholic University with a history dating back to 1851. The colleges strengths in the liberal arts and science earned it a chapter of  Phi Beta Kappa. Many of Saint Josephs most popular and distinguished programs, however, are in business fields. Undergraduates can choose from 75 academic programs. In athletics, the Saint Josephs Hawks compete in the NCAA Division I  Atlantic 10 Conference  as well as the Philadelphia Big 5 conference. Lacrosse competes in the  Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference. Enrollment (2016) Total Enrollment: 8,415  (5,377  undergraduates)Gender Breakdown: 45 percent male / 55 percent female87  percent full-time Costs (2016-17) Tuition and Fees: $43,020Books: $825 (why so much?)Room and Board: $14,524Other Expenses: $1,205Total Cost: $59,574 Saint Josephs University Financial Aid (2015 -16) Percentage of Students Receiving Aid: 97  percentPercentage of Students Receiving Types of AidGrants: 97 percentLoans: 60 percentAverage Amount of AidGrants: $22,407Loans: $10,017 Academic Programs Most Popular Majors:  Accounting, Business Administration, English, Finance, Health Services, Marketing, Psychology,  Special EducationWhat major is right for you?  Sign up to take the free My Careers and Majors Quiz at Cappex. Graduation and Retention Rates First Year Student Retention (full-time students): 91  percent4-Year Graduation Rate: 72 percent6-Year Graduation Rate: 80  percent Intercollegiate Athletic Programs Mens Sports:  Lacrosse, Rowing, Cross Country, Track and Field, Basketball, Baseball, Golf, SoccerWomens Sports:  Field Hockey, Lacrosse, Soccer, Rowing, Basketball, Tennis, Track and Field, Cross Country If You Like Saint Josephs, You May Also Like These Schools Fordham University: Profile | GPA-SAT-ACT GraphDrexel University: Profile | GPA-SAT-ACT GraphTemple University: Profile | GPA-SAT-ACT GraphUniversity of Pittsburgh: Profile | GPA-SAT-ACT GraphArcadia University: Profile | GPA-SAT-ACT GraphBoston College: Profile | GPA-SAT-ACT GraphJames Madison University: Profile | GPA-SAT-ACT GraphPennsylvania State University: Profile | GPA-SAT-ACT GraphSyracuse University: Profile | GPA-SAT-ACT GraphFairfield University: Profile | GPA-SAT-ACT GraphUniversity of Delaware: Profile | GPA-SAT-ACT Graph Data Source: National Center for Educational Statistics