Has a reviewer labeled your writing as simple, boring, monotone, or flat? «That hurts!,» I know. Good news is I can help.
In this blog, I explain one strategy for achieving this highly sought after flow using varied sentence structure. Nowhere has this phenomenon been captured more effectively than in Gary Provost’s image:
![](https://pwdpr.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Gary-Provost-Sentence-Strcture.png)
As Gary clearly shows, your writing becomes engaging because of sentence length. At the same time, your argument could easily be drowned in a sea of consecutively short or long sentences. The solution: alternate between simple, compound, complex, and compound-complex sentences.
Sentence types
Let me define each sentence type. If you already know what they are, just skip to the next section where I explain how they work.
Simple Sentences (herein S)- A simple sentence is an independent clause. In other words a complete thought expressed using a subject and a verb.
![](https://pwdpr.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/independent-clause-simple-sentence.jpg)
Compound Sentences (CP)- When two or more independent clauses are linked by a coordinating conjunction.
![](https://pwdpr.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Compoun-sentence.jpg)
What are coordinating conjunctions? These seven words:
![](https://pwdpr.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/t-l-4953-fanboys-coordinating-conjunctions-display-poster-_ver_1.jpg)
Complex Sentences (CX)- Are made of one independent and at least one dependent clause. A dependent clause necessitates another clause, because on its own it does not communicate a complete message.
![](https://pwdpr.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Complex-sentence.jpg)
The clauses are typically connected by subordinating conjunctions and relative pronouns. Don’t get turned off by the technical terms, just keep an eye out for the keyword listed below.
![](https://pwdpr.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Subordinating-conjunctions-and-relative-pronouns-1.jpg)
Compound-complex sentences (CPX)- Contain at least two independent clauses (like the compound sentence) and at least one dependent clause (like the complex sentence).
![](https://pwdpr.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/compound-complex.jpg)
Using varied sentence types
What can you do now that you know the different sentence types?
- You can start by reading portions of your manuscript out loud. Do any parts sound monotonous?
- Another option is to target the sections which reviewers have labeled dull.
Either way, classify each sentence into these 4 types: S, CP, CX, CPX. Personally, I would assign a color to each type and then color code the manuscript in small increments. There’s something so useful in visibly seeing which color takes over the piece!
If you find that a section feels dull and notice it is largely of one color, vary the sentence structure.
I hope this blog helps you produce writing that is more engaging. Leave a comment here as I would love to hear about your process.
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