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Journalistic Writing MCM310

LECTURE 16

GRAMMATICAL SENTENCE ISSUES II

ADJECTIVES AND ADVERBS

G4-a

Use adverbs not adjectives as subject complements

The arrangement worked out perfectly for everyone.

I was surprised to hear that Louise had done so well on the exam.

G4-b

Use adjectives not adverbs as subject complements

The lilacs in our backyard smell especially sweet (not sweetly) this year.

Sarmad looked good in her new raincoat.

G4-c

Use comparatives and superlatives with care

Comparative versus superlative

Comparative

Superlative

Positive

Soft

softer

softest

Careful

more careful

most careful

Easy

easier

easiest

Good

better

best

Bad

worse

worst

Which of these two brands of toothpaste is better?

Though Shaw and Jackson are impressive, Hobbs is the most qualified of the three candidates

running for mayor.

Form of comparatives and superlatives.

· The Kirov was the super best ballet company we had ever seen.

Lolyd's luck couldn't have been worse than David's

Double comparatives or superlatives

· Of all her family, Julia is the happiest (not most happiest) about the move.

That is the most vile (not vilest) most vilest joke I have ever heard.

Absolute concepts

· That is the unique (not most unique) wedding grown I have ever seen.

The painting would have been priceless (not more priceless) had it been signed.

G4-d

Avoid double negatives.

Management is not doing anything (not nothing) to see that the trash is picked up.

George will never (not won't never) forget that day.

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Journalistic Writing MCM310

SENTENCE FRAGMENTS

G5-a

Attach fragmented subordinate clause or turn them into sentences.

Before: Jane promises to address the problem of limited parking. If she is elected to the tenants'

council.

After: Jane promises to address the problem of limited parking if she is elected to the tenants'

council.

Before: Violence has produced a great deal of apprehension among children and parents. So that

self-preservation, in fact, has become their primary aim.

After: Violence has produced a great deal of apprehension among children and parents. Self-

preservation, in fact, has become their primary aim.

G5-b

Attach fragmented phrases or turn them into sentences.

Before: On Sunday James read the newspaper's employment sections remotest possibility.

Scrutinizing every position that held even the remotest possibility.

After: On Sunday James read the newspaper's employment sections remotest possibility,

scrutinizing every position that held even the remotest possibility.

Before: Wednesday morning Phil allowed himself half a grapefruit. The only food he had eaten in

two days.

After: Wednesday morning Phil allowed himself half a grapefruit, the only food he had eaten in

two days.

G5-c

Attach other fragmented word groups or turn them into sentences.

Before: The side effects of lithium are many Nausea, stomach cramps, muscle weakness, vomiting,

diarrhoea, confusion, and tremors.

After: The side effects of lithium are many: nausea, stomach cramps, muscle weakness, vomiting,

diarrhoea, confusion, and tremors.

Comma splices and fused sentences

· Comma splice:

Power tends to corrupt, absolute power corrupts absolutely

Comma splice:

Power tends to corrupt, moreover, absolute power corrupts absolutely

Revised:

Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts, absolutely

Revised:

Power tends to corrupt; absolute power corrupts absolutely

Revised:

Power tends to corrupt; moreover, absolute power corrupt absolutely

G6-a

Consider separating the clause with a comma and a coordinating conjunction

Theo and Fanny had hoped to spend their final days on the farm, but they had to move to a

retirement home.

Many government officials privately admit that the polygraph is unreliable, yet they continue to

use it as a security measure.

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Journalistic Writing MCM310

G6-b Consider separating the clause with a semicolon.

Nicklaus is like fine wine; he gets better with time.

The timber wolf looks like a large German shepherded; however, the wolf has longer legs, larger

feet, and a wider head.

G6-c

Consider making the clauses into separate sentences.

In one episode viewers saw two people smashed by a boat, one choked, and another shot to death,

what purpose does this violence serve?

Revised: In one episode viewers saw two people smashed by a boat, one choked, and another

shot to death. What purpose does this violence serve?

G6-d

Consider restructuring the sentence, perhaps by subordinating one of the clauses.

Lindsey is a top competitor who (not she) has been riding since the age of seven.

The new health plan was explained to the employees in my division, everyone agreed to give it a

try.

Revised: When the new health plan was explained to the employees in my division, everyone

agreed to give it a try.

Source: Hacker, Dianna. `A Writer's Reference' Boston: St. Martin's Press. 1992.