A review of common college student writing flaws --
including the issue of confusing sentence structure.
by Randall S. Hansen, Ph.D., and Katharine Hansen, Ph.D.
Confusing Sentence Structure.
The best way to avoid sentence that trip up your professor and hamper
readability is to read your paper aloud. Chances are, a sentence that doesn't
read well orally is too complex or confusing in print as well.
You can usually simplify by breaking a sentence into two or more sentences
and by ensuring that all modifiers (adjectives and adverbs) and clauses
(groups of related words that contain both a subject and a predicate and
that function as part of a sentence) are structurally close to the elements
to which they refer. You can also cut out unnecessary clauses and phrases
(groups of related words without a subject and a predicate that function as
a single part of speech).
Of course, you should also avoid going in the opposite extreme of having too
many short, choppy sentences in your paper. Strive for balance.
Go to the next common college student writing flaw:
Using
Sentence Fragments and Run-On Sentences.
Back to the main page of
The Top
15 Writing Flaws That Can Lead to Lower Grades
Looking for more writing assistance? Go to our sister site,
EnhanceMyWriting.com: Indispensable Writing Resources.
Questions about some of the terminology used in this article? Get more information
(definitions and links) on key academic terms by going to our
College Success Glossary. [Coming soon!]
Dr. Randall S. Hansen, CEO of EmpoweringSites.com, has been empowering people his
entire adult life -- to help them better their lives. In fact, empowerment is part of his professional
philosophy statement. He is also founder of
Quintessential Careers, one of the oldest and most
comprehensive career development sites on the Web, as well as founder of
MyCollegeSuccessStory.com and
EnhanceMyVocabulary.com. He is publisher of
Quintessential Careers Press
as well as a published author, with several books, chapters in books, and hundreds
of articles. He's often quoted in the media and conducts
empowering workshops around the country. Hansen is also an educator, having taught at the
college level for more than 15 years.
Dr. Katharine Hansen, Creative Director of EmpoweringSites.com,
is a former speechwriter and college instructor who provides content for several of our sites, including
Quintessential Careers,
MyCollegeSuccessStory.com, and
EnhanceMyVocabulary.com. She also edits
QuintZine, an electronic newsletter for job-seekers,
career counselors, and students. She is author of Dynamic Cover Letter for New Graduates; A Foot in the Door: Networking Your
Way into the Hidden Job Market; and, with Randall S. Hansen, Ph.D., Dynamic Cover Letters
and Write Your Way to a Higher GPA, all published by Ten Speed Press.
She can be reached by e-mail at kathy@quintcareers.com.
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