Five Rules For Writing Strong Sentences
Strong sentences don’t just convey information, they present them in a way that’s effective and engaging. The good news is, everyone can write strong sentences, provided you follow the rules.
- Use active verbs. Strong sentences use strong verbs — ones that communicate a sense of action, rather than being or having. Avoid using verbs like “seem,” “feel” and “know,” opting for more concrete ones that communicate a strong action.
- Cut out clutter. In strong sentences, every word counts. If it can still convey the same meaning after you cut a word out, then what is it doing still in there?
- No fluff. Not every phrase or clause needs to be informative, but they all need to serve a purpose, whether for humor, emphasis or effect. If a phrase or clause doesn’t carry its own weight, it’s better off removed.
- No clichés. Overused figurative language are a death knell for sentences. The more educated the reader, the more trite the cliché-drenched sentence will come across. Not only does it make your writing weak, it paints you as an unimaginative writer, too.
- No empty subjects. English allows for empty subjects, to the point that your grammar software won’t even warn you of them. If you use such constructions, make sure the reader can identify the subject (usually in the previous sentence).