AVOIDING

AWKWARD SENTENCES

Week #3
September 20, 2021
 1. WORDS WITH LITTLE OR NO
MEANING

• Filler words/phrases:
• kind of, actually, in particular, basically, virtually,
 WORDS WITH LITTLE OR NO
MEANING

• Procrastination actually makes • I am of the opinion that we

certain people really should not prohibit children
unsuccessful more than virtually from talking in the hallways
any other particular habit. entirely and completely.
 2. REDUNDANCY
• The football team made future plans to
completely concentrate on the basic
fundamentals of each individual position.
• The dinosaurs that were green
colored were few in number during
that period in history.
• I hope you give this matter your full
and complete attention.
• Redundant words:
• whole entire, big fat, complete truth,
terrible tragedy, pitch black, various
different, true facts, free gift, and
final outcome.
• pick and choose, full and complete,
hope and trust, any and all, true and
accurate, each and every, basic and
fundamental, hopes and desires, and
first and foremost
 3. NEGATIVES

• She wore a sweater that • She wore a sweater that was

was not different from similar to mine.
mine. • If you receive an invitation,
• Without failing to refuse you can buy a gift.
denying an invitation, you
have not avoided
precluding buying a gift.
EXERCISE 1

Page #35, Numbers 1-6

 4. QUALIFIERS

• Starting sentences with phrase such as I

feel, I think, I believe, in my opinion, or I am
of the opinion that can dilute what you
have to say.
• You should also be careful not to over-use
words such as very, pretty, quite, rather,
clearly, obviously, certainly, always, of
course, indeed, inevitably, and invariably.
 EXAMPLES:

• I believe that homework should

be reduced.
• I am of the opinion that bungee
jumping should be an Olympic
sport.
• The cheese clearly overpowered
the pasta and, of course, made
the dish rather difficult to eat.
EXERCISE 2

Page #36, Numbers 7-11

 5. VOCABULARY

• Make a variety of vocabulary in your

paragraphs.
• in the event that becomes if; concerning the
matter of becomes about; are in a position
becomes can; the reason for becomes why;
because of the fact becomes because.
 VOCABULARY EXAMPLES

• In the event that every union

member decides to vote, we will
have a huge turnout.
• We need to make a conclusive
decision concerning the matter
of your result of thesis writing.
6. SHORT AND CHOPPY SENTENCES

• Make a variety of short and long

sentences, not all short ones.
7. PARTICIPLES AND PARTICIPIAL
PHRASES

• To avoid awkward sentence, we can use

participial phrase to explain something.
• Example:
• Developing off the coast of Haiti, a tropical
storm brought rain and high winds to the
West Indies.
• We saw Lance Armstrong receiving the
yellow jersey after the first mountain
stage of the Tour de France.
8. GERUND AND GERUND PHRASES

• To avoid awkward sentence, we can use gerund

phrases.
• Example:
• Running is a good way to stay in shape.
• Until I revise many times, I am not happy with
my writing.
• Working on the shrimp boat was a good
summer job.
• My brother enjoys skiing at Crystal Mountain.
 9. INFINITIVE AND INFINITIVE
PHRASES

• To avoid monotonous writing, we can use

infinitive phrases.
• Example:
• Fred tried to speak quickly.
• There must be a way to get past the road block.
 10. APPOSITIVE AND APPOSITIVE
PHRASES

• To avoid monotonous writing, we can use

appositive and appositive phrases.
• Example:
• My cousin Alejandro can play the piano.
• My grandmother, a talented cook, used to make an
excellent pot roast.
EXERCISE 3

Page #36, Numbers 12-18