Fixing sentence problems
Choppy and stringy sentences
- Choppy sentences are too short.
- To correct, combine them into compound or complex sentences.
Choppy: The drought has caused a severe water shortage. It is important to save water.
Correct by using ‘so’ (compound sentence) or ‘because’ (complex sentence).
- Stringy sentences are written the way we speak, with too many conjunctions.
- They are not academic.
- Break them up and reconstruct them:
Stringy: Droughts cause severe water shortages, so it is important to save water, and it is also necessary to find ways to recycle it.
Revised: Droughts cause severe water shortages, so it is important to save water. It is also necessary to find ways to recycle it.
To do
- Stringy Sentence (Purdue OWL)
More info
- Choppy sentences (University of Minnesota)
- Compound sentences (USQ, Academic Success Planner)
- Complex sentences (USQ, Academic Success Planner)