The most compelling and effective messages contain a variety of sentence patterns and avoid common sentence faults. You can create successful messages with sentence variety by understanding the four sentence types, controlling the length of your sentences, and avoiding fragments, run-ons, and comma splices.
Identify the correct pattern of a complex sentence.
One independent clause with a subject and a predicate verb
Two independent clauses joined by a conjunction, a semicolon, or a conjunctive adverb
An independent clause and a dependent clause
Identify the sentence pattern of the following sentence.
Katherine should proofread the recommendation report, and you should finish the slide deck for the presentation.
Compound-complex
Simple
Compound
Sentence length also impacts the reception of your message.
Complete the following sentence.
Controlling sentence length will help the of your message. (tonality, readability)
The three most common sentence errors are fragments, run-ons, and comma splices. If you can identify the common types of sentence errors, you will be more likely to avoid making them.
Read the following selections and identify the sentence error.
Cell phones enhance communication with colleagues they overcome barriers imposed by time or space.
Fragment
Comma splice
Run-on