Sentence Coherence
Sentence Coherence
Coherence means the quality of sticking together. a sentence has coherence when the sentence elements are so arranged as to show their relationship. Clarity in the sentence depends largely on proper word order
A. Achieving coherence through proper placement of modifiers
A modifier is a word, phrase, or clause that describes, strengthens, or clarifies another word (or group of words) in a sentence. When a modifier is placed in its proper position in a sentence, a sense of clarity is established for the reader.
Example: Confusion: He barely kicked that ball twenty yards.
Repair Work: He kicked that ball barely twenty yards.
The issue of the proper placement of "only" has long been argued among grammarians. Many careful writers will insist that "only" be placed immediately before the word or phrase it modifies. Thus "I only gave him three dollars" would be rewritten as "I gave him only three dollars." Some grammarians, however, have argued that such precision is not really necessary, that there is no danger of misreading "I only gave him three dollars" and that "only" can safely and naturally be placed between the subject and the verb. The argument has been going on for two hundred years.
Other examples: (boardwork)
1. Mother loves the bungalow which she inherited from her grandfather. (Spanish- style, maternal)
2. The bride walked down the aisle on the arm of her father. (slowly)
A.1. Avoiding Misplaced modifiers
Misplaced modifiers-a word, phrase, or clause that is improperly separated from the word it modifies
How to correct a misplaced modifier: Place the modifier close to the word it modifies
Error: I brought the dress from that store that I really wanted.
Correction: I brought the dress that I really wanted from that store.
A.2. Avoiding Squinting Modifiers
Squinting Modifiers -a phrase or clause that seems to modify two words at a time
Example: Students who miss classes frequently fail the course.
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Coherence means the quality of sticking together. a sentence has coherence when the sentence elements are so arranged as to show their relationship. Clarity in the sentence depends largely on proper word order
A. Achieving coherence through proper placement of modifiers
A modifier is a word, phrase, or clause that describes, strengthens, or clarifies another word (or group of words) in a sentence. When a modifier is placed in its proper position in a sentence, a sense of clarity is established for the reader.
Example: Confusion: He barely kicked that ball twenty yards.
Repair Work: He kicked that ball barely twenty yards.
The issue of the proper placement of "only" has long been argued among grammarians. Many careful writers will insist that "only" be placed immediately before the word or phrase it modifies. Thus "I only gave him three dollars" would be rewritten as "I gave him only three dollars." Some grammarians, however, have argued that such precision is not really necessary, that there is no danger of misreading "I only gave him three dollars" and that "only" can safely and naturally be placed between the subject and the verb. The argument has been going on for two hundred years.
Other examples: (boardwork)
1. Mother loves the bungalow which she inherited from her grandfather. (Spanish- style, maternal)
2. The bride walked down the aisle on the arm of her father. (slowly)
A.1. Avoiding Misplaced modifiers
Misplaced modifiers-a word, phrase, or clause that is improperly separated from the word it modifies
How to correct a misplaced modifier: Place the modifier close to the word it modifies
Error: I brought the dress from that store that I really wanted.
Correction: I brought the dress that I really wanted from that store.
A.2. Avoiding Squinting Modifiers
Squinting Modifiers -a phrase or clause that seems to modify two words at a time
Example: Students who miss classes frequently fail the course.
We