3. Composing Effective Sentences

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.

Two independent clauses joined by a conjunction, a semicolon, or a conjunctive adverb

One independent clause with a subject and a predicate verb

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

Compound

Simple

Sentence length also impacts the reception of your message.

Complete the following sentence.

Controlling sentence length will help the ___ of your message. a. tonality b. comprehension

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, furthermore they overcome barriers imposed by time or space.

Fragment

Run-on

Comma splice

Avoiding the most common sentence faults helps you maintain professional credibility and craft more effective messages.

Select the correct version of each pair of the following sentences.

As local markets become saturated. Companies look to other countries for further expansion.

As local markets become saturated, companies look to other countries for further expansion.

You write well you should represent the company.

You write well. You should represent the company.

Employees today arent hired only for their knowledge, their ability to learn new things is also vital.

Employees today arent hired only for their knowledge. Their ability to learn new things is also vital.

The communication process works fluidly it moves from one step to the next often without pause.

The communication process works fluidly. It moves from one step to the next often without pause.

To ensure clear communication; use precise words to convey your ideas.

To ensure clear communication, use precise words to convey your ideas.