Written by Martin Wiles
“Variety is the spice of life”—as it is with writing … and with editing.
Before we can switch up the structure, however, we must know the types of sentence structures, as well as other elements we find in sentences. So, pardon the brief grammar class.
The four types of sentences we write are declarative, imperative, interrogative, and exclamatory. Declarative sentences are the most common type and make a statement. Imperatives give a command or strong suggestion. Interrogatives ask a question, and exclamatory sentences express surprise and end with an exclamation point.
The kinds of sentences are simple, compound, complex, and compound complex. Simple sentences contain one independent clause (subject and verb expressing a complete thought). Compound sentences contain two independent clauses connected by a coordinating conjunction or semicolon. Complex sentences have one independent clause and one dependent clause (subject and verb expressing a complete thought, along with a clause that does not express a complete thought). Compound-complex sentences contain two independent clauses and at least one dependent clause.
Within any of the above types and kinds of sentences, we can find adjectival and adverbial prepositional phrases or verbal phrases (gerunds, participles, and infinitives).
Switching up sentence structure means using all the above in various ways while avoiding the common errors that can occur.
Varying Sentence Structure with Phrases (Prepositional and Verbal)
Where we place the prepositional phrase can change the meaning of the sentence, but it can also confuse the reader, making it imperative that we put it near the verb or noun we want it to modify.
Example: We watched a film from Australia presented by missionaries (the film is from Australia).
Example: Dad said on Saturday we would go fishing. (Did Dad say it on Saturday, or is the fishing trip on Saturday?)
Verbal phrases provide even more flexibility to vary sentence structure than prepositional phrases do.
Example: Running (gerund) in the morning is good exercise.
Example: A form of good exercise is running in the morning.
Participial phrases also give versatility but are typically used only as adjectives.
Example: Hung (participle) on the clothesline to dry, the towel flapped in the breeze.
Example: The towel flapped in the breeze while hung on the clothesline to dry.
When participial phrases are used at the beginning of a sentence, we must be careful not to create a dangling participle. This occurs when the phrase has no subject to modify or when the subject it modifies is senseless.
Infinitive phrases also provide an opportunity to vary our sentence structure.
Example: To run (infinitive) in the morning is a good exercise.
Example: I love to run in the morning for exercise.
Varying Sentence Structure with Clauses (Noun, Adjective, Adverb)
Noun clauses are introduced by the following signal words: that, whether, if, who, whom, whose, which, what, when, where, why, how, whoever, whomever, whichever, and whatever.
Example: (Whether we go to the writing conference) has not been decided.
Example: We have not decided whether to go to the writing conference.
When we use adjective clauses, we must introduce them with relatives: who, whom, which, that, and whose. These give less flexibility since they must follow the noun they modify.
Example: The girl (who won the contest) is in the tenth grade.
Adverb clauses usually answer the following questions: when, where, how, why, to what extent, or under what conditions. Like single adverbs and adverb phrases, they can provide greater variety in sentence structure, especially when they modify the verb.
Example: We will leave (when the game is over).
Example: When the game is over, we will leave.
Watch That Parallelism
A final matter to consider when varying sentence structure is parallelism. When we have logically parallel ideas, we must place them in a grammatical form that is identical.
Incorrect Example: You can sit either on the floor, or you can sit in the balcony.
Correct Example: You can sit either on the floor or in the balcony.
In the incorrect example, a prepositional phrase follows either, but a pronoun follows or, making this unparallel.
Lists can also present parallel issues.
Incorrect Example: He enjoys writing, editing, and to run.
Correct Example: He enjoys writing, editing, and running.
To check for parallelism, look at the first word or phrase and see if all the following elements are identical (all phrases, all clauses, all adjectives, all nouns, etc.).
As editors, we can’t assume our writers are familiar with the grammatical concepts discussed in this post. But we should be. And when we are, we can help our clients’ writing pop. So go ahead. Help your client switch that sentence structure so the manuscript, article, or devotion won’t bore the readers.
Martin Wiles is an author, pastor, English teacher, freelance editor who resides in Greenwood, South Carolina. He is a Gold PEN member and PEN instructor, the managing editor for VineWords: Devotions and More, and the Managing Editor for Christian Devotions. He is the founder/editor of the internationally recognized devotion site, Love Lines from God. His most recent book, Grits, Grace, and Grands, is available on Amazon. He has also been published in numerous publications. He is the husband of one, the father of two, and the grandfather of seven.