c
  



 
Dr. David Blakesley
Professor of English, Purdue
   

English is an S-V-O language, so get

with it!

Sentences that have a

subject ± verb - object
order are more readable than
those that don¶t.
    

j
ðhe American Concrete Institute recommends


the technique.
    

ðhe technique is being recommended by the
j
ACI.
   

ºet close to the action!

When possible, put the agent

(subject) and action (verb) close
together in the sentence.
    

odified by a chemical process, the ash

a
a
j 

strengthens the mixture.
    

a

j
ðhe ash, modified by a chemical process,
a

strengthens the asphalt.

   

ºet those modifiers up close and

personal!

Keep modifiers and the words they

modify close together in the sentence.
    

è

 

Prone to non-linear fissures and cracks, the

asphalt is difficult to cut.

  è


    

è

 

Prone to non-linear fissures and cracks, it was

difficult to cut the asphalt.


è


   c

People matter!

Whenever possible, put people in the

subject position in the sentence.
   c 

 

 
ðhree teams of engineers tested the slag.


   c 



 

ðhe slag was tested with multiple measures
under laboratory conditions.




 

 
 

‰
 

 that many readability problems

stem from one type of sentence
construction 



 

ðhe passive voice reverses the agent

and the object.

Active
John laid the pavement.
s v o

Passive
ðhe pavement was laid by John.
s v o
   c


In with the old, out with the new!

Start sentences with old information, end

them with new (or important) information.
Ñ 


Business school professors perennially debate over
whether maintaining an old employee is more costly
than hiring a new one. ðhe issue has strong proponents on
each side. Human resource experts maintain that keeping
an old employee requires fewer man hours for training and
orientation. However, management gurus insist
that having the right person in the right position increases
the overall productivity of a team or workgroup. Between
these two groups are the economists who study new hiring
practices in a company-specific context.
Ñ 


Business school professors perennially debate over
whether maintaining an old employee is more costly
than hiring a new one. Strong proponents are on each side
of the issue. An old employee requires fewer man hours
for training and orientation, human resource experts
maintain. However, having the right person in the
right position increases the overall productivity of a team or
workgroup, according to some management gurus.
Between these two groups are the economists who study
new hiring practices in a company-specific context.
   c
 
Business school professors perennially debate over
whether maintaining an old employee is more costly
than hiring a new one. ðhe issue has strong proponents on
each side. Human resource experts maintain that keeping
an old employee requires fewer man hours for training and
orientation. However, management gurus insist
that having the right person in the right position increases
the overall productivity of a team or workgroup. Between
these two arguments are the economists who study new
hiring practices in a company-specific context.


 


 


   c
 
Business school professors perennially debate over
whether maintaining an old employee is more costly
than hiring a new one. Strong proponents are on each side
of the issue. An old employee requires fewer man hours
for training and orientation, human resource experts
maintain. However, having the right person in the
right position increases the overall productivity of a team or
workgroup, according to some management gurus.
Between these two groups are the economists who study
new hiring practices in a company-specific context.


 


 


 c
   
  

ü. English is an S-V-O language, so get with it!

2. ºet close to the action!
3. ºet those modifiers up close and personal!
4. People matter!
5. In with the old, out with the new!
!

"
# $


%$ "
# $

!&'% 

 cor ore Information

‡ Contact the Purdue Writing Lab:

± Drop In: Heavilon 226
± Call: 765-494-3723
± Email: owl@owl.english.purdue.edu
± On the web: http://owl.english.purdue.edu