One of the best ways to improve your writing style is to improve the variety of your sentence structures. Professional writers vary the subject-verb-object pattern with other grammatical sentence structures. A simple guideline for good sentence variety would be 50% subject-verb-object sentence openers and 50% other grammatical sentence opener forms. Try these sentence openers to add spice to your writing.
Prepositional Phrase
Start with a phrase beginning with one of these common prepositions to improve writing style: aboard, about, above, according to, across, after, against, along, among, around, as, as to, at, before, behind, below, beneath, beside, between, beyond, but, by, despite, down, during, except, for, from, in, inside, instead of, into, in place of, in spite of, like, near, next, of, off, on, onto, outside, out of, over, past, regardless of, since, than, through, throughout, to, toward, under, underneath, unlike, until, up, upon, with, within, without.
Place a comma after a prepositional phrase sentence opener when a noun or pronoun follows.
Example: Behind the cabinet, he found the missing watch
Adjective
Start with a word or phrase that describes a proper noun, common noun or pronoun with "how many," "which one" or "what kind" to improve writing style. Place a comma after an adjective or adjective phrase sentence opener.
Examples: Angry, the neighbor refused to leave. Happy as always, the child played in the park.
Adverb
Start with a word that answers these questions: how, when, where or what degree to improve writing style.
Many adverbs end in __ly. Place a comma after an adverb sentence opener if the adverb is emphasized.
Example: Everywhere, the flowers were blooming; quickly, the winter turned to spring.
Adverbial Clause
Start a dependent clause (a noun and verb that does not express a complete thought) with one of the following subordinating conjunctions to improve writing style: after, although, as, as if, as long as, as much as, as soon as, as though, because, before, even if, even though, how, if, in order that, once, since, so that, than, that, though, unless, until, when, whenever, where, wherever, whether or while.
Place a comma after an adverbial clause that begins a sentence.
Example: Although better known for its winter activities, Lake Tahoe offers much during the summer.
__d, __ed or __en Verbs
Start with a __d or __ed verb, acting as an adjective, when combined with a prepositional phrase, or an __en verb when combined with an adverb to improve writing style. Usually place a comma after the sentence opener.
Examples: Frightened by the noise, I sat up straight in my bed.
Taken quickly, the pill did not dissolve for minutes.
To + Verb
Start with "to" and then add the base form of a verb to improve writing style. Add related words to create a phrase. Place a comma after the sentence opener, if a noun follows.
Examples: To smile takes great effort.
To play the game, Mark had to sign a contract.
__ing Verbs and Nouns
Start a phrase with an __ing word that acts as an adjective to improve writing style. Usually place a comma after the sentence opener.
Start a phrase with an __ing word that serves as a noun. Usually do not place a comma after the sentence opener.
Examples: (Adjective) Falling rapidly, the climber hopes the rope will hold.
(Noun) Tasting the sauce makes them hungry for dinner.
Having Verbs and Nouns
Start a phrase with "having" and then add a verb that ends in __d, __ed or __en to serve as an adjective or a noun -- referring to something that happened in the past to improve writing style. Usually place a comma after the sentence opener.
Examples: (Adjective) Having listened to his teacher, the student knew how to study.
(Noun) Having learned all of the answers is helpful.
Noun Clause
Start with a group of words that acts as the subject of a sentence beginning with: how, however, what, whatever, when, whenever, where, wherever, which, whichever, who, whoever or whomever to improve writing style. Place a comma after the noun clause when used as a sentence opener if it does not serve as the subject of the sentence.
Example: However the students answered, the scores were marked wrong.
Nominative Absolute
Start with a possessive pronoun (my, mine, our, your, his, her or their) followed by a verb with a d, __ed or __en ending to serve as a noun phrase that provides information, but no grammatical connection with the rest of the sentence. A comma is placed at the end of the nominative absolute when it opens a sentence.
Example: His friends angry and frustrated, Paul promised to change his behavior.
Mark Pennington is an educational author, presenter, reading specialist and middle school teacher. Pennington is committed to differentiated instruction for the diverse needs of today's students and their teachers. Visit Pennington's website to check out his free teacher resources and books: "Teaching Reading Strategies," "Teaching Essay Strategies," "Teaching Grammar and Mechanics," and "Teaching Spelling and Vocabulary."
