ORDER OF WORDS IN A SENTENCE

by Edwin A. AbbottDecember 1st, 2023

Too Long; Didn't Read

15. Emphatic words must stand in emphatic positions; i.e., for the most part, at the beginning or the end of the sentence. 15 a. Unemphatic words must, as a rule, be kept from the end. Exceptions. 15 b. An interrogation sometimes gives emphasis. The Subject, if unusually emphatic, should often be transferred from the beginning of the sentence. The Object is sometimes placed before the Verb for emphasis. Where several words are emphatic, make it clear which is the most emphatic. Emphasis can sometimes be given by adding an epithet, or an intensifying word. Words should be as near as possible to the words with which they are grammatically connected. Adverbs should be placed next to the words they are intended to qualify.

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ORDER OF WORDS IN A SENTENCE.

15. Emphatic words must stand in emphatic positions; i.e., for the most part, at the beginning or the end of the sentence.

15 a. Unemphatic words must, as a rule, be kept from the end. Exceptions.

15 b. An interrogation sometimes gives emphasis.

The Subject, if unusually emphatic, should often be transferred from the beginning of the sentence.
The Object is sometimes placed before the Verb for emphasis.
Where several words are emphatic, make it clear which is the most emphatic. Emphasis can sometimes be given by adding an epithet, or an intensifying word.
Words should be as near as possible to the words with which they are grammatically connected.
Adverbs should be placed next to the words they are intended to qualify.
"Only"; the strict rule is that "only" should be placed before the word it affects.
When "not only" precedes "but also," see that each is followed by the same part of speech.
"At least," "always," and other adverbial adjuncts, sometimes produce ambiguity.
Nouns should be placed near the Nouns that they define.
Pronouns should follow the Nouns to which they refer, without the intervention of any other Noun.
Clauses that are grammatically connected should be kept as close together as possible. Avoid parentheses. But see 55.
In conditional sentences, the antecedent or "if-clauses" must be kept distinct from the consequent clauses.
Dependent clauses preceded by "that" should be kept distinct from those that are independent.
Where there are several infinitives, those that are dependent on the same word must be kept distinct from those that are not.
The principle of Suspense.

30 a. It is a violation of the principle of suspense to introduce unexpectedly at the end of a long sentence, some short and unemphatic clause beginning with (a) "not," (b) "which."

Suspense must not be excessive.
In a sentence with "if," "when," "though," &c., put the "if-clause," antecedent, or protasis, first.
Suspense is gained by placing a Participle or Adjective, that qualifies the Subject, before the Subject.
Suspensive Conjunctions, e.g. "either," "not only," "on the one hand," &c., add clearness.
Repeat the Subject, where its omission would cause obscurity or ambiguity.
Repeat a Preposition after an intervening Conjunction, especially if a Verb and an Object also intervene.
Repeat Conjunctions, Auxiliary Verbs, and Pronominal Adjectives.

37 a. Repeat Verbs after the Conjunctions "than," "as," &c.

Repeat the Subject, or some other emphatic word, or a summary of what has been said, if the sentence is so long that it is difficult to keep the thread of meaning unbroken.
Clearness is increased, when the beginning of the sentence prepares the way for the middle, and the middle for the end, the whole forming a kind of ascent. This ascent is called "climax."
When the thought is expected to ascend, but descends, feebleness, and sometimes confusion, is the result. The descent is called "bathos."

40 a. A new construction should not be introduced unexpectedly.

Antithesis adds force and often clearness.
Epigram.
Let each sentence have one, and only one, principal subject of thought. Avoid heterogeneous sentences.
The connection between different sentences must be kept up by Adverbs used as Conjunctions, or by means of some other connecting words at the beginning of the sentence.
The connection between two long sentences or paragraphs sometimes requires a short intervening sentence showing the transition of thought.

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