Sentence Combining Writing Consultant Presentation EG 1003: Intro to Engineering and Design...

Sentence Combining

Writing Consultant PresentationEG 1003: Intro to Engineering and DesignPolytechnic Institute of NYU

Sentence Combining

How to combine independent clauses

Legal combination options

Avoiding common mistakes

Avoid repeated short, choppy sentences:“The design was tested. The accuracy was 95%. The robot was marketable.”

Eliminate errors of punctuation:“The hen and the corn set off the alarm, the circuit was a success.

Highlight brief sentences with contrast:“Minimal design was used as the team pooled its knowledge of balloons. The design was successful.”

Combining is more readable

Start with independent clauses

A clause has: A subject (noun that performs the action) A finite verb (showing number and time)

Which are independent clauses? Precision is the repeatability of a result. The robot completing the course. Audience and purpose are the basic

principles of professional writing.

Start with independent clauses

A clause has: A subject (noun that performs the action)A finite verb (showing number and time)

Which are independent clauses?Precision is the repeatability of a result.The robot completing the course.Audience and purpose are the basic principles of professional writing.

Sentence Combining

How to combine independent clauses

Legal combination options

Avoiding common mistakes

Combine independent clauses legally

1. Colon or semicolon2. Semicolon with coordinating

adverb 3. Comma with coordinating

conjunction4. Subordinating conjunction5. Participial phrase transformation

independent clause

The robot was accurate: it passed the test.

.Independent

clause ; or : or .1.

independent clause

The robot was accurate: it passed the test..

Independent clause ; or : or .1.

thereforehowever thus

Independent clause ;

independent clause .,

coordinating adverb

meanwhileaccordinglynevertheless

The robot was accurate; therefore, it passed the test.then

consequentlyfurthermore

2.

independent clause

The robot was accurate: it passed the test..

Independent clause ; or : or .1.

thereforehowever thus

Independent clause ;

independent clause .,

coordinating adverb

meanwhileaccordinglynevertheless

The robot was accurate; therefore, it passed the test.then

consequentlyfurthermore

2.

The robot was not accurate; however, it passed the test.

independent clause

The robot was accurate: it passed the test..

Independent clause ; or : or .1.

thereforehowever thus

Independent clause ;

independent clause .,

coordinating adverb

meanwhileaccordinglynevertheless

The robot was accurate; therefore, it passed the test.then

consequentlyfurthermore

2.

Independent clause ,

independent clause .

conjunction

The robot was accurate, so it passed the test.

3.

The robot was not accurate; however, it passed the test.

andbut

for or/nor

soyet

independent clause

The robot was accurate: it passed the test..

Independent clause ; or : or .1.

thereforehowever thus

Independent clause ;

independent clause .,

coordinating adverb

meanwhileaccordinglynevertheless

The robot was accurate; therefore, it passed the test.then

consequentlyfurthermore

2.

Independent clause ,

independent clause .

conjunction

The robot was accurate, so it passed the test.

3.

Fanboys

The robot was not accurate; however, it passed the test.

norbut

for and

sooryet

independent clause

The robot was accurate: it passed the test..

Independent clause ; or : or .1.

thereforehowever thus

Independent clause ;

independent clause .,

coordinating adverb

meanwhileaccordinglynevertheless

The robot was accurate; therefore, it passed the test.then

consequentlyfurthermore

2.

Independent clause ,

independent clause .

conjunction

andbut

for or/nor

Subordinating conjunction ,

independent clause .

dependent clause

subordinating conjunction

Independent clause .

dependent clause

The robot was accurate, so it passed the test.

Because the robot was accurate, it passed the test.

The robot was accurate after it passed the test.

soyet

3.

4a.

4b.

Because, BeforeUnless, UntilSince, So that

If, In order toThoughAlthough, After, As

While, When/Where(ever)Even though However

The robot was not accurate; however, it passed the test.

independent clause

The robot was accurate: it passed the test..

Independent clause ; or : or .1.

thereforehowever thus

Independent clause ;

independent clause .,

coordinating adverb

meanwhileaccordinglynevertheless

The robot was accurate; therefore, it passed the test.then

consequentlyfurthermore

2.

Independent clause ,

independent clause .

conjunction

andbut

for or/nor

Subordinating conjunction ,

independent clause .

dependent clause

subordinating conjunction

Independent clause .

dependent clause

The robot was accurate, so it passed the test.

Because the robot was accurate, it passed the test.

The robot was accurate after it passed the test.

soyet

3.

4a.

4b.

“We hit a bus.”

The robot was not accurate; however, it passed the test.

Because, BeforeUnless, UntilSince, So that

If, In order toThoughAlthough, After, As

While, When/Where(ever)Even though However

independent clause

The robot was accurate: it passed the test..

Independent clause ; or : or .1.

thereforehowever thus

Independent clause ;

independent clause .,

coordinating adverb

meanwhileaccordinglynevertheless

The robot was accurate; therefore, it passed the test.then

consequentlyfurthermore

2.

Independent clause ,

independent clause .

conjunction

andbut

for or/nor

Subordinating conjunction ,

independent clause .

dependent clause

subordinating conjunction

Independent clause .

dependent clause

The robot was accurate, so it passed the test.

Because the robot was accurate, it passed the test.

The robot was accurate after it passed the test.

soyet

3.

4a.

4b.

The robot was not accurate; however, it passed the test.

However the robot was aligned, it always passed the test.

Because, BeforeUnless, UntilSince, So that

If, In order toThoughAlthough, After, As

While, When/Where(ever)Even though However

independent clause

The robot was accurate: it passed the test..

Independent clause ; or : or .

Participial phrase

independent clause .,

Being accurate, the robot passed the test.

1.

5.

thereforehowever thus

Independent clause ;

independent clause .,

coordinating adverb

meanwhileaccordinglynevertheless

The robot was accurate; therefore, it passed the test.then

consequentlyfurthermore

2.

Independent clause ,

independent clause .

conjunction

andbut

for or/nor

Subordinating conjunction ,

independent clause .

dependent clause

subordinating conjunction

Independent clause .

dependent clause

The robot was accurate, so it passed the test.

Because the robot was accurate, it passed the test.

The robot was accurate after it passed the test.

soyet

3.

4a.

4b.

The robot was not accurate; however, it passed the test.

However the robot was aligned, it always passed the test.

Because, BeforeUnless, UntilSince, So that

If, In order toThoughAlthough, After, As

While, When/Where(ever)Even though However

Sentence Combining

How to combine independent clauses

Legal combination options

Avoiding common mistakes

But, the robot passed the test for accuracy.

Conjunctions and adverbs

However, the robot passed the test for accuracy.

Conjunctions combine two things

thereforehowever thus

independent clause .,

Coordinating adverb

meanwhileaccordinglynevertheless

then consequentlyfurthermore

2.

Independent clause ,

independent clause .

conjunction

andbut

for or/nor

soyet

3.

Because the robot passed the test.

Starting with “because”

Because the robot passed the test, it should be put on the market.

… end with an independent clause

Subordinating conjunction ,

independent clause .

dependent clause

4a.

Because, BeforeUnless, UntilSince, So that

If, In order toThoughAlthough, After, As

While, When/Where(ever)Even though However

The robot passed the test for accuracy, however it was not precise.

Combining with “however”

The robot passed the test for accuracy; however, it was not precise.

“However” rarely subordinates

thereforehowever thus

Independent clause ;

independent clause .,

coordinating adverb

meanwhileaccordinglynevertheless

then consequentlyfurthermore

2.

Practice with these sentences

Virtual instruments simulate laboratory instruments. They do not always replace physical objects.

The hen and the corn were in the same barn. The alarm sounded.

Sentence Combining

How to combine independent clauses

Legal combination options

Avoiding common mistakes