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Wordiness PREVIOUS Click to see a revision MENUEXIT Sentence Beginnings All of these sentences begin with a subject and verb. Identify these words in each sentence. Zora Neale Hurston was one of the most successful writers of the Harlem Renaissance period. She wrote plays, novels, and essays that were enthusiastically received. She died in poverty despite her talent. When too many sentences in a paragraph begin the same way, the writing will be dull and monotonous.TRANSCRIPT
WordinessSentence Beginnings
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When too many sentences in a paragraph begin the same way, the writing will be dull and monotonous.
WordinessSentence Beginnings
MENU EXIT
All of these sentences begin with a subject and verb. Identify these words in each sentence.
Zora Neale Hurston was one of the most successful writers of the Harlem Renaissance period. She wrote plays, novels, and essays that were enthusiastically received. She died in poverty despite her talent.
PREVIOUS
When too many sentences in a paragraph begin the same way, the writing will be dull and monotonous.
Click to see the answer
Wordiness
PREVIOUS
Click to see a revision
MENU EXIT
Sentence Beginnings
All of these sentences begin with a subject and verb. Identify these words in each sentence.
Zora Neale Hurston was one of the most successful writers of the Harlem Renaissance period. She wrote plays, novels, and essays that were enthusiastically received. She died in poverty despite her talent.
When too many sentences in a paragraph begin the same way, the writing will be dull and monotonous.
Wordiness
PREVIOUS MENU EXIT
Sentence Beginnings
Zora Neale Hurston was one of the most successful writers of the Harlem Renaissance period. She wrote plays, novels, and essays that were enthusiastically received. She died in poverty despite her talent.
ORIGINAL
REVISEDZora Neale Hurston was one of the most successful writers of the Harlem Renaissance period. Even though she wrote plays, novels, and essays that were enthusiastically received, she died in poverty despite her talent.
Next
Such monotonous writing can be improved by varying the beginnings of some sentences.
When too many sentences in a paragraph begin the same way, the writing will be dull and monotonous.
Wordiness
Use the following strategies for varying the way your sentences begin. Click on the strategy you want to explore.
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Sentence Beginnings
•Start a sentence with a phrase•Start a sentence with a single word•Start a sentence with a subordinate clause
Wordiness
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PhrasesA phrase at the beginning of a sentence can add both variety and extra detail. These phrases may also function as transitions, helping to connect ideas or show a sequence.
• Despite the periodic drizzle, we decided to go hiking anyway. • Approaching cautiously, the trainer could see the wild look in
the horse’s eyes.• To hear him tell the story, you would think he was blameless.
Sentence Beginnings
Wordiness
MENU EXIT
PhrasesA phrase at the beginning of a sentence can add both variety and extra detail. These phrases may also function as transitions, helping to connect ideas or show a sequence.
Sentence Beginnings
• Despite the periodic drizzle, we decided to go hiking anyway. • Approaching cautiously, the trainer could see the wild look in
the horse’s eyes.• To hear him tell the story, you would think he was blameless.
Wordiness
MENU EXIT
PhrasesA phrase at the beginning of a sentence can add both variety and extra detail. These phrases may also function as transitions, helping to connect ideas or show a sequence.
Sentence Beginnings
• Despite the periodic drizzle, we decided to go hiking anyway. • Approaching cautiously, the trainer could see the wild look in
the horse’s eyes.• To hear him tell the story, you would think he was blameless.
Next
Wordiness
PREVIOUS MENU EXIT
PhrasesWhich idea in the following paragraph could be changed into a phrase?
Blood donations must be processed carefully before they can be used. They are tested for infectious diseases and identified by blood type. They are broken down into parts, such as red blood cells, platelets, and plasma.
Sentence Beginnings
Click to see the idea
Wordiness
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To vary these sentences, change one of these ideas into a phrase. Which idea could be changed into a phrase?
Blood donations must be processed carefully before they can be used. They are tested for infectious diseases and identified by blood type. They are broken down into parts, such as red blood cells, platelets, and plasma.
Click to see a revision
Sentence Beginnings
Phrases
Wordiness
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PhrasesSentence Beginnings
To vary these sentences, change one of these ideas into a phrase. Which idea could be changed into a phrase?
Blood donations must be processed carefully before they can be used. They are tested for infectious diseases and identified by blood type. They are broken down into parts, such as red blood cells, platelets, and plasma.
Wordiness
MENU EXIT
PhrasesSentence Beginnings
Blood donations must be processed carefully before they can be used. They are tested for infectious diseases and identified by blood type. They are broken down into parts, such as red blood cells, platelets, and plasma.
He
. TheyThey are
Wordiness
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PhrasesSentence Beginnings
Blood donations must be processed carefully before they can be used. They are tested for infectious diseases and identified by blood type. They are broken down into parts, such as red blood cells, platelets, and plasma.
Wordiness
MENU EXIT
PhrasesSentence Beginnings
Blood donations must be processed carefully before they can be used. They are tested for infectious diseases and identified by blood type. Theyare broken down into parts, such as red blood cells, platelets, and plasma.
After being, they
Wordiness
MENU EXIT
PhrasesSentence Beginnings
Blood donations must be processed carefully before they can be used. They are tested for infectious diseases and identified by blood type. Theyare broken down into parts, such as red blood cells, platelets, and plasma.
After being, they
Wordiness
MENU EXIT
PhrasesSentence Beginnings
Blood donations must be processed carefully before they can be used. They are tested for infectious diseases and identified by blood type. Theyare broken down into parts, such as red blood cells, platelets, and plasma.
After being, they
Wordiness
PREVIOUS MENU EXIT
PhrasesSentence Beginnings
Linking the last two sentences with a phrase helps to emphasize the sequence of the processing procedure and breaks up the monotony of the sentences.
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Blood donations must be processed carefully before they can be used. They are tested for infectious diseases and identified by blood type. Theyare broken down into parts, such as red blood cells, platelets, and plasma.
After being, they
Wordiness
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Single WordsA single word at the beginning of a sentence can add variety to a paragraph and change the rhythm of the sentences.
• No, he would not—could not—turn back now.• Exhilarated, the swimmer burst through the surface of the
pond.• Irate, she demanded to know why he was so late.
Sentence Beginnings
Wordiness
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Single WordsA single word at the beginning of a sentence can add variety to a paragraph and change the rhythm of the sentences.
• No, he would not—could not—turn back now.• Exhilarated, the swimmer burst through the surface of the
pond.• Irate, she demanded to know why he was so late.
Sentence Beginnings
Wordiness
MENU EXIT
Single WordsA single word at the beginning of a sentence can add variety to a paragraph and change the rhythm of the sentences.
Sentence Beginnings
Next
• No, he would not—could not—turn back now.• Exhilarated, the swimmer burst through the surface of the
pond.• Irate, she demanded to know why he was so late.
Wordiness
PREVIOUS MENU EXIT
Single WordsSentence Beginnings
Where could adding a single word add variety to this paragraph?
Their conversation was hushed and urgent. Their heads were bent close together. They dropped their voices even lower when the waiter walked by.
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Wordiness
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Single WordsSentence Beginnings
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Their conversation was hushed and urgent. Their heads were bent close together. Secretively, they dropped their voices even lower when the waiter walked by.
The addition of the word changes the rhythm of the sentences and adds interest by describing the couple’s mood.
Wordiness
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Subordinate ClausesBeginning with a subordinate clause not only adds variety, it can also emphasize an important idea or stress the sequence of events. Clauses can also function as transitions, helping to connect ideas.
• After the child lurched and stumbled over the cat, she righted herself and tottered to her mother.
• Whenever instructions say “minimal assembly required,” it means you will be putting the object together for hours.
• Although Emily Dickinson wrote nearly 1,800 poems, most of them were published after her death.
Sentence Beginnings
Wordiness
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Subordinate ClausesBeginning with a subordinate clause not only adds variety, it can also emphasize an important idea or stress the sequence of events. Clauses can also function as transitions, helping to connect ideas.
• After the child lurched and stumbled over the cat, she righted herself and tottered to her mother.
• Whenever instructions say “minimal assembly required,” it means you will be putting the object together for hours.
• Although Emily Dickinson wrote nearly 1,800 poems, most of them were published after her death.
Sentence Beginnings
Wordiness
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Subordinate ClausesBeginning with a subordinate clause not only adds variety, it can also emphasize an important idea or stress the sequence of events. Clauses can also function as transitions, helping to connect ideas.
Sentence Beginnings
i
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• After the child lurched and stumbled over the cat, she righted herself and tottered to her mother.
• Whenever instructions say “minimal assembly required,” it means you will be putting the object together for hours.
• Although Emily Dickinson wrote nearly 1,800 poems, most of them were published after her death.
Wordiness
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Subordinate ClausesSentence Beginnings
Which of these sentences could be changed to include a subordinate clause?
It is important to eat plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables. They help fortify the immune system. They contain vitamins and minerals that are necessary for a balanced diet.
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Wordiness
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Subordinate ClausesSentence Beginnings
It is important to eat plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables. They help fortify the immune system. They contain vitamins and minerals that are necessary for a balanced diet.
Click to see a revision
Which of these sentences could be changed to include a subordinate clause?
Wordiness
PREVIOUS MENU EXIT
Subordinate ClausesSentence Beginnings
It is important to eat plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables. They help fortify the immune system. They contain vitamins and minerals that are necessary for a balanced diet.
ORIGINAL
It is important to eat plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables. Besides helping to fortify the immune system, they contain vitamins and minerals that are necessary for a balanced diet.
REVISED
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