GRAMMATICAL SENTENCE – ISSUES II:SENTENCE FRAGMENTS

<< GRAMMATICAL SENTENCE – ISSUES:SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT

EFFECTIVE SENTENCE:PARALLELISM, NEEDED WORDS, SHIFTS >>

Journalistic Writing MCM310

LECTURE 16

GRAMMATICAL SENTENCE ISSUES II

ADJECTIVES AND ADVERBS

G4-a

Use adverbs not adjectives as subject complements

�

The arrangement worked out perfectly for everyone.

�

I was surprised to hear that Louise had done so well on the exam.

G4-b

Use adjectives not adverbs as subject complements

�

The lilacs in our backyard smell especially sweet (not sweetly) this year.

�

Sarmad looked good in her new raincoat.

G4-c

Use comparatives and superlatives with care

Comparative versus superlative

Comparative

Superlative

Positive

Soft

softer

softest

Careful

more careful

most careful

Easy

easier

easiest

Good

better

best

Bad

worse

worst

�

Which of these two brands of toothpaste is better?

�

Though Shaw and Jackson are impressive, Hobbs is the most qualified of the three candidates

running for mayor.

Form of comparatives and superlatives.

� The Kirov was the super best ballet company we had ever seen.

�

Lolyd's luck couldn't have been worse than David's

Double comparatives or superlatives

� Of all her family, Julia is the happiest (not most happiest) about the move.

�

That is the most vile (not vilest) most vilest joke I have ever heard.

Absolute concepts

� That is the unique (not most unique) wedding grown I have ever seen.

�

The painting would have been priceless (not more priceless) had it been signed.

G4-d

Avoid double negatives.

�

Management is not doing anything (not nothing) to see that the trash is picked up.

�

George will never (not won't never) forget that day.

Journalistic Writing MCM310

SENTENCE FRAGMENTS

G5-a

Attach fragmented subordinate clause or turn them into sentences.

�

Before: Jane promises to address the problem of limited parking. If she is elected to the tenants'

council.

�

After: Jane promises to address the problem of limited parking if she is elected to the tenants'

council.

�

Before: Violence has produced a great deal of apprehension among children and parents. So that

self-preservation, in fact, has become their primary aim.

�

After: Violence has produced a great deal of apprehension among children and parents. Self-

preservation, in fact, has become their primary aim.

G5-b

Attach fragmented phrases or turn them into sentences.

�

Before: On Sunday James read the newspaper's employment sections remotest possibility.

Scrutinizing every position that held even the remotest possibility.

�

After: On Sunday James read the newspaper's employment sections remotest possibility,

scrutinizing every position that held even the remotest possibility.

�

Before: Wednesday morning Phil allowed himself half a grapefruit. The only food he had eaten in

two days.

�

After: Wednesday morning Phil allowed himself half a grapefruit, the only food he had eaten in

two days.

G5-c

Attach other fragmented word groups or turn them into sentences.

�

Before: The side effects of lithium are many Nausea, stomach cramps, muscle weakness, vomiting,

diarrhoea, confusion, and tremors.

�

After: The side effects of lithium are many: nausea, stomach cramps, muscle weakness, vomiting,

diarrhoea, confusion, and tremors.

Comma splices and fused sentences

� Comma splice:

Power tends to corrupt, absolute power corrupts absolutely

�

Comma splice:

Power tends to corrupt, moreover, absolute power corrupts absolutely

�

Revised:

Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts, absolutely

�

Revised:

Power tends to corrupt; absolute power corrupts absolutely

�

Revised:

Power tends to corrupt; moreover, absolute power corrupt absolutely

G6-a

Consider separating the clause with a comma and a coordinating conjunction

�

Theo and Fanny had hoped to spend their final days on the farm, but they had to move to a

retirement home.

�

Many government officials privately admit that the polygraph is unreliable, yet they continue to

use it as a security measure.

Journalistic Writing MCM310

G6-b Consider separating the clause with a semicolon.

�

Nicklaus is like fine wine; he gets better with time.

�

The timber wolf looks like a large German shepherded; however, the wolf has longer legs, larger

feet, and a wider head.

G6-c

Consider making the clauses into separate sentences.

�

In one episode viewers saw two people smashed by a boat, one choked, and another shot to death,

what purpose does this violence serve?

�

Revised: In one episode viewers saw two people smashed by a boat, one choked, and another

shot to death. What purpose does this violence serve?

G6-d

Consider restructuring the sentence, perhaps by subordinating one of the clauses.

�

Lindsey is a top competitor who (not she) has been riding since the age of seven.

�

The new health plan was explained to the employees in my division, everyone agreed to give it a

try.

�

Revised: When the new health plan was explained to the employees in my division, everyone

agreed to give it a try.

Source: Hacker, Dianna. `A Writer's Reference' Boston: St. Martin's Press. 1992.

Table of Contents: