Review: Sentence Usage

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Ce contenu est offert en anglais seulement.

Decide whether the following sentences are effective or ineffective.

1. Albert Einstein’s famous quotation "God does not play dice" was his reaction to the theory that the universe is essentially the outcome of random events.

Oops!

Question:
Albert Einstein’s famous quotation "God does not play dice" was his reaction to the theory that the universe is essentially the outcome of random events.
Answer:
The answer effective sentence is not correct.
Explanation:
Einstein’s quotation is very effective and deserves a position of emphasis in the sentence. Consider how much more effective the sentence becomes when the quotation is moved to the end:

Quantum physicists argued that the universe is essentially the outcome of random events, but Albert Einstein replied that "God does not play dice."


Moving the quotation to the end makes this a periodic sentence, with the quotation as its climax.

Good work!

Question:
Albert Einstein’s famous quotation "God does not play dice" was his reaction to the theory that the universe is essentially the outcome of random events.
Answer:
The answer ineffective sentence is correct.
Explanation:
Einstein’s quotation is very effective and deserves a position of emphasis in the sentence. Consider how much more effective the sentence becomes when the quotation is moved to the end:

Quantum physicists argued that the universe is essentially the outcome of random events, but Albert Einstein replied that "God does not play dice."


Moving the quotation to the end makes this a periodic sentence, with the quotation as its climax.

2. Racism should be unacceptable in society by now, but every year the newspapers still report on racially motivated attacks, questionable police shootings, and groups who actively promote the superiority of whites over blacks or blacks over whites.

Good work!

Question:
Racism should be unacceptable in society by now, but every year the newspapers still report on racially motivated attacks, questionable police shootings, and groups who actively promote the superiority of whites over blacks or blacks over whites.
Answer:
The answer effective sentence is correct.
Explanation:
The writer of this sentence presumes that the reader agrees that racism should be unacceptable, but then goes on to present evidence that, despite the best intentions of people like the reader, racism is still common. For this type of argument, a loose sentence like this one works well: the writer begins with an uncontroversial statement to gain the reader’s confidence, then proceeds to introduce more controversial points.

Oops!

Question:
Racism should be unacceptable in society by now, but every year the newspapers still report on racially motivated attacks, questionable police shootings, and groups who actively promote the superiority of whites over blacks or blacks over whites.
Answer:
The answer ineffective sentence is not correct.
Explanation:
The writer of this sentence presumes that the reader agrees that racism should be unacceptable, but then goes on to present evidence that, despite the best intentions of people like the reader, racism is still common. For this type of argument, a loose sentence like this one works well: the writer begins with an uncontroversial statement to gain the reader’s confidence, then proceeds to introduce more controversial points.

3. The citizens of Kingston have gone too long without decent bicycle paths!

Oops!

Question:
The citizens of Kingston have gone too long without decent bicycle paths!
Answer:
The answer effective sentence is not correct.
Explanation:
While the issue of bicycle paths is an important one, the writer has made a serious mistake here by using an exclamatory sentence—it makes the tone look forced and the writer insincere. Use an exclamatory sentence only when a point is truly shocking.

Good work!

Question:
The citizens of Kingston have gone too long without decent bicycle paths!
Answer:
The answer ineffective sentence is correct.
Explanation:
While the issue of bicycle paths is an important one, the writer has made a serious mistake here by using an exclamatory sentence—it makes the tone look forced and the writer insincere. Use an exclamatory sentence only when a point is truly shocking.

Avis de droit d’auteur pour l’outil HyperGrammar 2

© Département d’anglais, Faculté des arts, Université d’Ottawa
Un outil mis en ligne par le Bureau de la traduction, Services publics et Approvisionnement Canada

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