Sentence Structure in English Nursing Essay Writing Basics
Sentence structure
refers to the physical nature of a sentence and how the elements of that sentence are presented. Just like word choice, writers should strive to vary their sentence structure to create rhythmic prose and keep their reader interested. Sentences that require a variation often repeat
subjects
,
lengths
, or
types
.
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Related information about varying sentence structures listed below can be found through later in this Sentence Structure in English Nursing Essay Writing post:
Sentence Structure and Types of Sentences
Run-On Sentences and Sentence Fragments
Parallel Construction
Relative, Restrictive, and Nonrestrictive Clauses
Conjunctions
Modifiers
Commas
Semicolons
Read more on the above 8 topics herebelow.
Varying Subject or Word Choice
One of the easiest ways to spot text that requires variety is by noting how each sentence opens. Writers can often overuse the same word, like an author’s name, or a subject, like pronouns to refer to an author, when beginning sentences. This lack of subject variety can be distracting to a reader. Review the following paragraph’s sentence variety:
My philosophy of education is derived from my personal experiences. I have been an educator for 4 years, and I have learned a lot from more experienced teachers in my district. I also work mainly with students from a low socioeconomic background; my background was quite different. I will discuss how all of these elements, along with scholarly texts, have impacted my educational philosophy. Sentence Structure in English Nursing Essay Writing.
Notice how the writer of this paragraph starts each sentence and clause with a personal pronoun. While the writer does alternate between “I” and “my”, both pronouns refer to the same subject. This repetition of personal pronouns is most common when writing a Personal Development Plan (PDP) or other personal papers. To avoid this type of repetition, try adjusting the placement of prepositional phrases or dependent clauses so the subject does not open each sentence:
My philosophy of education is derived from my personal experiences. Having been an educator for 4 years, I have learned a lot from more experienced teachers in my district. I also work mainly with students from a low socioeconomic background that is quite different from mine. In this paper, I will discuss how all of these elements, along with scholarly texts, have impacted my educational philosophy.
Varying Sentence Length
Another way to spot needed sentence variety is through the length of each sentence. Repeating longer sentences can inundate a reader and overshadow arguments, while frequently relying on shorter sentences can make an argument feel rushed or stunted. Sentence Structure in English Nursing Essay Writing.
Overusing Long Sentences
The company reported that yearly profit growth, which had steadily increased by more than 7% since 1989, had stabilized in 2009 with a 0% comp, and in 2010, the year they launched the OWN project, actually decreased from the previous year by 2%. This announcement stunned Wall Street analysts, but with the overall decrease in similar company profit growth worldwide, as reported by Author (Year) in his article detailing the company’s history, the company’s announcement aligns with industry trends and future industry predictions. Sentence Structure in English Nursing Essay Writing.
Notice how this paragraph is comprised of just two sentences. While each clause does provide relevant information, the reader may have difficulty identifying the subject and purpose of the whole paragraph.
Overusing Short Sentences
In 2010, the company’s yearly profit growth decreased from the previous year by 2%. This was the year they launched the OWN project. The profit growth had steadily increased by more than 7% since 1989. (They stabilized in 2009.) This announcement stunned Wall Street analysts. However, it aligns with the decrease in similar company profit growth worldwide. It also supports future predictions for the industry (Author, Year).
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Notice how this paragraph uses the same information as the previous one but breaks it into seven sentences. While the information is more digestible through these shorter sentences, the reader may not know what information is the most pertinent to the paragraph’s purpose. Sentence Structure in English Nursing Essay Writing.
Alternating Sentence Length
Alternating between lengths allows writers to use sentences strategically, emphasizing important points through short sentences and telling stories with longer ones:
The company reported that profit growth stabilized in 2009, though it had steadily increased by more than 7% since 1989. In 2010, the year they launch the OWN project, company profit growth decreased from the previous year. This announcement stunned Wall Street analysts. According to Author (Year), however, this decrease is exemplar of a trend across similar company profit growth worldwide; it also supports future predictions for the industry.
Varying Sentence Type
One of the trickiest patterns to spot is that of repetitive sentence type. Just like subject and length, overusing a sentence type can hinder a reader’s engagement with a text. There are four types of sentences: simple, compound, complex, and compound-complex. Each sentence is defined by the use of independent and dependent clauses, conjunctions, and subordinators.
Simple sentences:
A simple sentence is an independent clause with no conjunction or dependent clause.
Compound sentences:
A compound sentence is two independent clauses joined by a conjunction (e.g., and, but, or, for, nor, yet, so). Sentence Structure in English Nursing Essay Writing.
Complex sentences:
A complex sentence contains one independent clause and at least one dependent clause. The clauses in a complex sentence are combined with conjunctions and subordinators, terms that help the dependent clauses relate to the independent clause. Subordinators can refer to the subject (who, which), the sequence/time (since, while), or the causal elements (because, if) of the independent clause.
Compound-complex sentences:
A compound-complex sentence contains multiple independent clauses and at least one dependent clause. These sentences will contain both conjunctions and subordinators.
Understanding sentence type will help writers note areas that should be varied through the use of clauses, conjunctions, and subordinators.
In her article, Author (Year) noted that the participants did not see a change in symptoms after the treatment. Even during the treatment, Author observed no change in the statements from the participants regarding their symptoms. Based on these findings, I will not use this article for my final project. Because my project will rely on articles that note symptom improvement, Author’s work is not applicable.
Notice how the writer relies solely on complex sentences in this paragraph, even placing dependent clauses at the beginning of each sentence. Here is an example of merely adjusting the placement of these dependent clauses but not the sentence type:
In her article, Author (Year) noted that the participants did not see a change in symptoms after the treatment. Author observed, even during treatment, no change in the statements from the participants regarding their symptoms. I will not use this article for my final project based on these findings. Because my project will rely on articles that note symptom improvement, Author’s work is not applicable. Sentence Structure in English Nursing Essay Writing.
While this change in the placement of dependent clauses does avoid a repetitive rhythm to the paragraph, try combining sentences or using conjunctions to create compound or compound-complex sentences to vary sentence type:
In her article, Author (Year) noted that the participants did not see a change in symptoms after the treatment. Author observed, even during treatment, no change in the statements from the participants regarding their symptoms, and based on these findings, I will not use this article for my final project. Because my project will rely on articles that note symptom improvement, Author’s work is not applicable.
Making these slight adjustments to sentence type helps the reader engage with the narrative rather than focus on the structure of the text. Adjusting your sentence type during a final revision is a great way to create effective prose for any scholarly document. Sentence Structure in English Nursing Essay Writing.
1. Sentence Structure and Types of Sentences
Definitions and Examples of Basic Sentence Elements
Key:
Yellow, bold
= subject;
green underline
= verb,
blue
, italics
= object,
pink, regular font
= prepositional phrase
Independent clause
: An independent clause can stand alone as a sentence. It contains a subject and a verb and is a complete idea.
I
like
spaghetti
.
He
reads
many books
.
Dependent clause
: A dependent clause is not a complete sentence. It must be attached to an independent clause to become complete. This is also known as a subordinate clause.
Although I like spaghetti,…
Because he reads many books,…
Subject
: A person, animal, place, thing, or concept that does an action. Determine the subject in a sentence by asking the question “Who or what?”
I
like
spaghetti.
He
reads
many books.
Verb
: Expresses what the person, animal, place, thing, or concept does. Determine the verb in a sentence by asking the question “What was the action or what happened?” Sentence Structure in English Nursing Essay Writing.
I
like
spaghetti.
He
reads
many books.
The movie
is
good. (The
be
verb is also sometimes referred to as a copula or a linking verb. It links the subject, in this case
the movie
, to the complement or the predicate of the sentence, in this case,
good
.) Sentence Structure in English Nursing Essay Writing.
Object
: A person, animal, place, thing, or concept that receives the action. Determine the object in a sentence by asking the question “The subject did what?” or “To whom?/For whom?”
I like
spaghetti
.
He reads
many books
.
Prepositional Phrase
: A phrase that begins with a preposition (i.e., in, at for, behind, until, after, of, during) and modifies a word in the sentence. A prepositional phrase answers one of many questions. Here are a few examples: “Where? When? In what way?”
I like spaghetti
for dinner.
He reads many books
in the library.
English Sentence Structure
The following statements are true about sentences in English:
A new sentence begins with a capital letter.
H
e obtained his degree.
A sentence ends with punctuation (a period, a question mark, or an exclamation point).
He obtained his degree
.
A sentence contains a subject that is only given once.
Smith
he obtained his degree.
Sentence Structure in English Nursing Essay Writing.
A sentence contains a verb or a verb phrase.
He
obtained
his degree.
A sentence follows Subject + Verb + Object word order.
He
(subject)
obtained
(verb)
his degree
(object).
A sentence must have a complete idea that stands alone. This is also called an independent clause.
He obtained his degree.
Simple Sentences
A simple sentence contains a subject and a verb, and it may also have an object and modifiers. However, it contains only
one
independent clause.
Key:
Yellow, bold
= subject;
green underline
= verb,
blue, italics
= object,
pink, regular font
=prepositional phrase
Here are a few examples:
She
read
.
She
completed
her literature review
.
He
organized
his sources
by theme.
They
studied
APA rules
for many hours.
Compound Sentences
A compound sentence contains at least
two
independent clauses. These two independent clauses can be combined with a comma and a coordinating conjunction or with a semicolon.
Key: independent clause =
yellow, bold
;
comma or semicolon = pink, regular font; coordinating conjunction =
green, underlined
Here are a few examples:
She completed her literature review
,
and
she created her reference list
.
He organized his sources by theme
;
then, he updated his reference list.
They studied APA rules for many hours
,
but
they realized there was still much to learn
.
Using some compound sentences in writing allows for more sentence variety.
Complex Sentences
A complex sentence contains at least
one
independent clause and at least
one
dependent clause. Dependent clauses can refer to the subject (
who, which
) the sequence/time (
since, while
), or the causal elements (
because, if
) of the independent clause.
If a sentence begins with a dependent clause, note the comma after this clause. If, on the other hand, the sentence begins with an independent clause, there is not a comma separating the two clauses.
Key: independent clause =
yellow, bold
;
comma =
pink, regular font
; dependent clause =
blue, italics
Here are a few examples:
Although she completed her literature review
,
she still needed to work on her methods section
.
Note the comma in this sentence because it begins with a dependent clause.
Because he organized his sources by theme
,
it was easier for his readers to follow
.
Note the comma in this sentence because it begins with a dependent clause.
They studied APA rules for many hours
as they were so interesting
.
Note that there is no comma in this sentence because it begins with an independent clause.
Using some complex sentences in writing allows for more sentence variety.
Compound-Complex Sentences
Sentence types can also be combined. A compound-complex sentence contains at least
two
independent clauses and at least
one
dependent clause.
Key: independent clause =
yellow, bold
;
comma or semicolon =
pink, regular font
; coordinating conjunction =
green, underlined
; dependent clause =
blue, italics
She completed her literature review
,
but
she still needs to work on her methods section
even though she finished her methods course last semester
.
Although he organized his sources by theme
,
he decided to arrange them chronologically
,
and
he carefully followed the MEAL plan for organization.
With pizza and soda at hand
,
they studied APA rules for many hours
,
and
they decided that writing in APA made sense
because it was clear, concise, and objective
.
Using some complex-compound sentences in writing allows for more sentence variety.
Pay close attention to comma usage in complex-compound sentences so that the reader is easily able to follow the intended meaning.
2. Run-On Sentences and Sentence Fragments
Run-On Sentences
A
run-on sentence
occurs when two or more independent clauses (also known as complete sentences) are connected improperly. Sentence Structure in English Nursing Essay Writing.
Example
:
I love to write papers.
I would write one every day if I had the time
.
There are two complete sentences in the above example:
Sentence 1
:
I love to write papers.
Sentence 2
:
I would write one every day if I had the time.
One common type of run-on sentence is a
comma splice
. A comma splice occurs when two independent clauses are joined with just a comma.
Example of a comma splice:
Participants could leave the study at any time
,
they needed to indicate their preference.
Sentence 1
:
Participants could leave the study at any time
.
Sentence 2
:
They needed to indicate their preference.
Some comma splices occur when a writer attempts to use a transitional expression in the middle of a sentence.
Example of a comma splice:
The results of the study were inconclusive
,
therefore
more research needs to be done on the topic.
Sentence 1
: The results of the study were inconclusive
Transitional expression
(conjunctive adverb):
therefore
Sentence 2:
More research needs to be done on the topic
To fix this type of comma splice, use a semicolon before the transitional expression and add a comma after it. See more examples of this on the semicolon page.
Revision:
The results of the study were inconclusive
;
therefore
,
more research needs to be done on the topic.
You can correct a run-on sentence by connecting or separating its parts correctly. There are several easy ways to connect independent clauses. Sentence Structure in English Nursing Essay Writing.
Correcting Run-On Sentences
A run-on sentence can be fixed by connecting its parts correctly. There are several ways to connect independent clauses.
Use a period
. The easiest way to fix a run-on is to split the sentence into smaller sentences using a period. This revision works especially well with longer sentences. Check, however, to make sure that this solution does not result in short, choppy sentences.
Revision example
:
I love to write papers
.
I would write one every day if I had the time
.
Use a semicolon
. Inserting a semicolon between independent clauses creates a grammatically correct sentence. Using a semicolon is a stylistic choice that establishes a close relationship between the two sentences.
Revision example
:
I love to write papers
;
I would write one every day if I had the time
.
Use a comma and a coordinating conjunction
. A comma, paired with a coordinating conjunction (such as
and
,
but
, or
or
), corrects a run-on sentence. This method emphasizes the relationship between the two clauses.
Revision example
:
I love to write papers
,
and
I would write one every day if I had the time
.
Use a subordinating conjunction
. Turn one of the independent clauses into a dependent clause. A subordinating conjunction (such as
because
,
unless
, and
although
) connects two clauses to create a complex sentence. This option works to cement the relationship between the two parts of the sentence and may improve the flow of the clauses.
Example
:
Because I love to write papers
,
I would write one every day if I had the time
.
However you decide to revise for run-on sentences, remember that maintaining sentence variety helps to keep the writing clear and interesting for your readers.
Sentence Fragments
A
sentence fragment
is a string of words that does not form a complete sentence; there is a necessary component of a complete sentence missing. This missing component may be a subject (usually a noun) or a predicate (verb or verb phrase) and/or when the sentence does not express a complete idea. Sentence Structure in English Nursing Essay Writing.
Here is an example of a fragment with a missing subject.
Example of a fragment
: Shows no improvement in any of the vital signs.
The sentence above is a fragment since there is no subject (
Who
shows no improvement?). Fragments can be corrected by identifying the missing element and including it.
Revision
:
The patient
shows no improvement in any of the vital signs.
Here is an example of a fragment with a missing predicate, or action:
Example of a fragment
: The doctors, who were using peer-reviewed research articles that contributed to the body of knowledge in their fields, which was obstetrics.
Notice here that although the sentence is quite long, it still contains no action (What are the doctors
doing
?). Once identified, the sentence can be corrected easily.
Revision:
The doctors, who were using peer-reviewed research articles that contributed to the body of knowledge in their field,
improved their knowledge of
obstetrics.
3. Parallel Construction
Parallel Construction Basics
Parallel ideas must be presented in
parallel grammatical form
. Parallel grammatical form means that each part of a sentence uses the same grammatical structure.
Examples of Parallel Construction
Between
and
And
Incorrect
: We debated the difference between
the weather in Minnesota in the winter
and
how hot it is in the summer
.
Correct
: We debated the difference between
the weather in Minnesota in the winter
and
the weather in Minnesota in the summer.
Both
and
And
Incorrect
: The films were enjoyable
to watch
and
discuss
.
Correct
: The films were enjoyable
to watch
and
to discuss
.
Neither
and
Nor; Either
and
Or
Incorrect
: Neither
the responses to the questionnaire
nor
what we asked on the survey
were answered.
Correct
: Neither
the responses to the questionnaire
nor
the responses to the survey
were answered.
Not Only
and
But Also
Incorrect
: It was surprising not only
that the house sold,
but also
it sold well over the asking price.
Correct
: It was surprising not only
that the house sold
but also that
it sold well over the asking price.
Sentence Structure in English Nursing Essay Writing.
Parallel Construction in a Series
Sentences with series, or lists, require particular attention to parallel construction.
Example 1:
Incorrect:
This paper will address
No Child Left Behind, how to teach effectively, and instructing with multimedia aids
.
Correct:
This paper will address No Child Left Behind
benchmarks
, effective teaching
strategies
, and multimedia instructional
aids
.
Now, the series has parallel elements (
benchmarks
,
strategies
, and
aids
are all plural nouns).
Example 2:
Incorrect:
The students were unprepared, poorly behaved, and disrupted the class.
Correct:
The students were
underprepared
, poorly
behaved
, and
disruptive
.
Now, the series has parallel elements (
underprepared
,
behaved
, and
disruptive
are all adjectives).
4. Relative, Restrictive, and Nonrestrictive Clauses
Relative Clauses and Relative Pronouns
Relative Clause
This is a clause that generally modifies a noun or a noun phrase and is often introduced by a relative pronoun (
which, that, who, whom, whose
). A relative clause connects ideas by using pronouns that relate to something previously mentioned and allows the writer to combine two independent clauses into one sentence. A relative clause is also known as an adjective clause. There are two types of relative clauses: restrictive and nonrestrictive.
Here are a few examples:
The book
that she read
was important for her literature review. (restrictive)
The participants
who were interviewed
volunteered to be part of the study. (restrictive)
Walden University,
which is entirely online
, has main administrative offices in Baltimore and Minneapolis. (nonrestrictive)
Relative Pronouns
Referring to a human
Referring to something other than a human
Possessive
Restrictive
who, whom, that*
which, that**
whose
Nonrestrictive (with commas)
who, whom
which
whose
*In APA, per Section 3.22, use
who
or
whom
instead of
that
when referring to a human.
**Although both
which
and
that
are grammatically correct in restrictive clauses, APA prefers
that
for restrictive clauses. See APA Section 3.22 for more information on this. Sentence Structure in English Nursing Essay Writing.
Use relative clauses to create more sentence variety.
Restrictive Clauses
Restrictive Clause
A restrictive clause restricts or defines the meaning of a noun or noun phrase and provides necessary information about the noun in the sentence. It is
not separated from the rest of the sentence by commas
. Restrictive clauses are more common in writing than nonrestrictive clauses. A restrictive clause is also sometimes referred to as an essential clause or phrase. Sentence Structure in English Nursing Essay Writing.
Here are a few examples:
The student
who sits in the back of the room
asks a lot of questions.
The results
that I obtained
may invoke positive social change.
The journalist
whose story I read yesterday
has won prizes for her work.
When the relative pronoun functions as the object of the sentence, it can (and usually is) omitted from the relative clause. Sentence Structure in English Nursing Essay Writing.
Here are a few examples:
The results
that
I obtained
may invoke positive social change.
The article
that
I requested
did not arrive on time.
The participants
who
I interviewed
met me at the local library.
Nonrestrictive Clauses
Nonrestrictive Clause
A nonrestrictive clause adds additional information to a sentence. It is usually a proper noun or a common noun that refers to a unique person, thing, or event. It
uses commas
to show that the information is additional. The commas almost act like parentheses within the sentence. If the information between the commas is omitted, readers will still understand the overall meaning of the sentence. A nonrestrictive clause is also known as a nonessential clause or phrase. Sentence Structure in English Nursing Essay Writing.
Here are a few examples:
I want to thank my father
, Mark Smith,
for all of his love and support.
With the nonrestrictive clause omitted: I want to thank my father for all of his love and support.
The hypothesis
, which I tested throughout the research,
was rejected. Sentence Structure in English Nursing Essay Writing.
With the nonrestrictive clause omitted: The hypothesis was rejected.
I have found the article
, which I have been looking for
.
With the nonrestrictive clause omitted: I have found the article.
While
that
is sometimes used in restrictive clauses, it is not allowed in nonrestrictive clauses.
CORRECT: Minneapolis
, which has a population of about 400,000,
is the largest city in Minnesota.
INCORRECT:
Minneapolis
, that has a population of about 400,000,
is the largest city in Minnesota.
CORRECT: I had to fix my printer
, which I bought less than a year ago.
INCORRECT:
I had to fix my printer,
that I bought less than a year ago
.
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A relative pronoun cannot be deleted in a nonrestrictive clause.
CORRECT: Minneapolis
, which has a population of about 400,000,
is the largest city in Minnesota.
INCORRECT:
Minneapolis
, has a population of about 400,000,
is the largest city in Minnesota. Sentence Structure in English Nursing Essay Writing.
CORRECT: I had to fix my printer
, which I bought less than a year ago.
INCORRECT:
I had to fix my printer,
I bought less than a year ago
.
Reduced Relative Clauses
In academic writing, relative clauses are often reduced for a more concise style. This also creates more sentence variety. When reducing a relative clause, it is necessary to delete the relative pronoun and either delete or change the verb. Here are some examples:
Gun control is a controversial issue
that is
about
personal rights. (
be
+ prepositional phrase)
The steps
that were
followed
were explained in the Methods section. (passive)
Other researchers
who are
exploring
the same topic have discovered similar solutions. (progressive verb tense) Sentence Structure in English Nursing Essay Writing.
Participants
who were
available
to meet in my office completed their interview there. (
be
+
able
adjective)
Some of the subjects lived in urban areas
that had
with
high crime rates. (
have
as a main verb is replaced by
with
)
In this paper, I reviewed many research articles
that addressed
addressing
the topic of gun control. (linking verbs or verbs describing facts can be changed to
–ing
clauses)
The changes
that are
to be implemented
with the new curriculum revisions are outlined in the handout. (
to
clauses)
5. Conjunctions
Basics of Conjunctions
Conjunctions
are parts of speech that connect words, phrases, clauses, or sentences. There are three kinds of conjunctions:
coordinating
,
paired
, and
subordinating
.
For more information about conjunctions, also see Compound Sentences, Varying Sentence Structure, and Comma Basics. Sentence Structure in English Nursing Essay Writing.
Coordinating Conjunctions
Coordinating conjunctions
connect words or phrases that serve the same grammatical purpose in a sentence. There are seven main coordinating conjunctions in English, which form the acronym FANBOYS:
F:
for
: The teachers were frustrated,
for
the school had cut funding for all enrichment programs.*
A:
and
: In this course, I will write a literature review, a case study,
and
a final paper.**
N:
nor
: The students did not complete their homework,
nor
did they pass the test.
B:
but
: The study is several years old
but
still valuable to this study.
O:
or
: At the end of the class, the students can choose to write an essay
or
take a test.
Y:
yet
: The patient complained of chronic pain,
yet
she refused treatment.
S:
so
: I have only been a nurse for one year,
so
I have little experience with paper charting.
*
For
is rarely used as a conjunction in modern English.
** When the conjunctions
and
and
or
connect three or more words or phrases, use a serial comma to separate items in the series.
Transitional words such as
however
and
therefore
can also function as conjunctions:
The authors agreed on the prevalence of the problem;
however
, they disagreed on the problem’s cause.
Several employees complained about the new policies, and
therefore
, the manager held an all-staff meeting to address their concerns. Sentence Structure in English Nursing Essay Writing.
Paired Conjunctions
Paired conjunctions
consist of two words or phrases that help make a point or establish alternatives. While paired conjunctions can be helpful in structuring a sentence, they can also make sentences wordier than necessary, so use these conjunctions sparingly.
both…and
The project will require significant investments of
both
time
and
money.
Both
the students
and
the teachers were satisfied with the pilot program.
Note: When two subjects are connected by both…and, use a plural verb (such as are or were).
not only…but also
Students who did not complete the assignment received
not only
a poor grade
but also
a warning from the teacher.
Not only
did the student include full sentences from the source without using quotation marks,
but
he
also
failed to properly cite paraphrased material.
either…or
Either
the students were unprepared
or
the assessment was poorly written.
Participants in the survey could
either
choose from a list of possible answers
or
write in their own responses.
neither…nor
Students who did not complete the project received
neither
praise
nor
rewards.
The staff
neither
followed the new policy
nor
asked for clarification.
Subordinating Conjunctions
Subordinating conjunctions
join a subordinate clause to a main clause and establishes a relationship between the two. There are many subordinating clauses, but here are some of the most common:
after
although
as much as/as soon as/as long as
as though
because
before
how
if
in order to/in order that
once
since
than
that
though
unless
until
when/whenever
where/wherever
whether
while
There are two ways to structure a sentence using a subordinating conjunction:
Main clause + subordinate clause
The teacher administered the test after giving instructions.
The author must avoid bias if she wants to maintain a scholarly tone.
I will turn in this assignment at midnight whether or not I complete it.
Subordinate clause + , + main clause
After giving instructions, the teacher administered the test.
Sentence Structure in English Nursing Essay Writing
If she wants to maintain a scholarly tone, the author must avoid bias.
Whether or not I complete this assignment, I will turn it in at midnight.
That
as a Conjunction for Noun Clauses
That
has a few different functions in English. This can lead to confusion because some instances of
that
are more optional than others in academic writing.
One important use of
that
is for embedding (inserting) a certain type of dependent clause called a noun clause into an independent clause. Frequently, such
that-
clauses serve as the direct object of a reporting verb (such as found, reported, posited, argued, claimed, maintained, and hypothesized) to introduce a paraphrase, summary, or quotation. Sentence Structure in English Nursing Essay Writing.
Key:
Yellow, bold
= subject;
green, underline
= verb;
blue, italics
= object
For example,
Smith (2015)
reported
that more research was necessary
.
Smith (2015)
= subject
reported
= verb
that more research was necessary
= dependent clause, direct object of the verb
reported
The authors
hypothesized
that there would be significant results
.
The authors
= subject
hypothesized
= verb
that there would be significant results
= dependent clause, direct object of the verb
hypothesized
Jones (2014)
asserted
that confidentiality was maintained throughout the study
.
Jones (2014)
= subject
asserted
= verb
that confidentiality was maintained throughout the study
= dependent clause, direct object of the verb
asserted
Rephrasing these sentences into questions and answers is one way to see that the
that
-clauses are acting as direct objects.
What did Smith (2015) report?
Answer:
that
more research was necessary
What did the authors hypothesize?
Answer:
that
there would be significant results
What did Jones (2014) assert?
Answer:
that
confidentiality was maintained throughout the study
In formal written English, for clarity, most academic writers choose to keep
that
when it introduces a noun clause (Caplan, 2012). Leaving out
that
can cause the reader to misread (at first anyway) the subject of the dependent clause as being the object of the reporting verb (Jamieson, 2012).
For example, if readers see the sentence,
Smith (2015) reported more research was necessary
(without
that
), they may understand “more research” as the thing Smith reported and then have to backtrack and reread upon seeing “was necessary.” Sentence Structure in English Nursing Essay Writing.
Any structure that leads to misinterpretation, even temporarily, can be an unwanted distraction from the writer’s message.
In spoken English, however,
that
may be dropped in such sentences. (Intonation patterns—rising and falling pitch—give the listener clues that may not be present in writing.)
Reference
Caplan, N. (2012).
Grammar choices for graduate and professional writers
. Ann Arbor, MI: University of Michigan Press. Sentence Structure in English Nursing Essay Writing.
6. Modifiers
Modifier Basics
A
modifier
is a word, phrase, or clause that modifies—that is, gives information about—another word in the same sentence. For example, in the following sentence, the word
burger
is modified by the word
vegetarian
:
Example:
I’m going to the Saturn Café for a
vegetarian
burger.
The modifier
vegetarian
gives extra information about what kind of burger it is.
A modifier can be an
adjective
(a word that modifies a noun, like
burger
), but it can also be an
adverb
(a word that modifies a verb):
Example:
The student
carefully
proofread her draft.
The adverb
carefully
is the modifier in this example—it modifies the verb
proofread
, giving important details about how the proofreading was conducted.
A modifier can even be
a phrase or clause
, as in the following example:
Example:
She studied
in the library
.
Here, the phrase
in the library
gives us extra information about the verb,
studied.
Modifiers can also be used for sentence variety. See this page on varying sentence structure for more information.
Misplaced Modifiers
When a modifier is ambiguously or illogically modifying a word, we consider it a
misplaced modifier
. See APA 3.21 for more explanation and examples.
Example:
Dolger discovered an ancient Mayan civilization
using astronavigation
.
The modifier,
using astronavigation
, is unclear in this sentence. Does it modify
Dolger
or
civilization
? A reader will wonder, “Was Dolger using astronavigation? Or was the civilization he discovered using astronavigation?”
Revision 1:
Using astronavigation
, Dolger discovered an ancient Mayan civilization.
This modifier placement makes it clear that
Dolger
is the one using astronavigation.
Revision 2:
Dolger discovered an ancient Mayan civilization that used astronavigation.
This modifier placement makes it clear that the
civilization
used astronavigation.
Dangling Modifiers
When a modifier is not modifying a specific word, we call it a
dangling modifier.
See APA 3.21 for more explanation and examples.
Example: After consulting a selection of current publications
, research in this area has been sparse.
In this example, it is not clear who is consulting the selection of current publications. In other words, there is no referent in the sentence.
Revision 1: After consulting a selection of current publications, I
determined that the research in this area has been sparse. Sentence Structure in English Nursing Essay Writing.
Now the subject in the sentence “I” matches the modifier “after consulting a selection of current publications.”
Revision 2: According to the selection of current publications, research
in this area has been sparse.
Now the modifier “according to the selection of current publications” matches the subject “research.”
7. Commas
Comma Basics
Commas
are punctuation marks with a variety of uses. The following constructions require commas:
Serialized lists.
In
a list with three or more elements
, use commas to separate all of the elements of the series.
Example
:
This KAM consists of Breadth, Depth, and Application.
This punctuation rule is also followed for parallel construction in a series.
Nonessential clauses.
Use commas to set off clauses that contain information that is
nonessential
to the sentence’s meaning.
Example:
Walden University, established in 1970, offers many degree programs.
Note that without the middle clause (
established in 1970
), the sentence still makes sense (
Walden University offers many degree programs
). Therefore, the clause is nonessential. For more information, view the page on relative, restrictive, and nonrestrictive clauses.
Compound sentences.
Use a comma to separate two independent clauses connected by a coordinating conjunction. A coordinating conjunction is a connecting word such as
and, but
, or
or.
For more information, view the page on sentence structure and types of sentences. Sentence Structure in English Nursing Essay Writing.
Example
: Smith (2001) conducted the research, and Heller (2008) commented on the results.
After a dependent introductory clause, phrase, or word
. Use a comma after a dependent introductory clause, phrase, or word.
Example of introductory clause:
If you are using this sentence structure, place a comma after the dependent clause.
Example of introductory phrase:
Before completing the interviews, I must obtain Walden University approval.
Example of introductory word
:
Therefore, I created three research questions.
Example of introductory word
:
However, further research is needed.
Dates.
Use a comma to set off the year in exact dates.
Example:
The hospital’s pursuit of Magnet status was successful (R. Jones, personal communication,
September 18, 2009
).
Citations.
Use commas to set off the elements of a citation.
Example:
The research was “inconclusive in its implications” (
Sanders, 2009, p. 45
).
Introducing quotations (not seamless).
Use a comma when an independent clause introduces a quotation but is not seamlessly integrated into it.
Example:
Freud (1900)
claimed,
“the dreamer…assumes that the dream–even if it does not come from another world–has at all events transported the dreamer into another world” (p. 5).
Visit varying sentence structures for more information on comma usage.
In addition, refer to APA Section 4.03 for more about commas. Sentence Structure in English Nursing Essay Writing.
Common Comma Errors
The following constructions do not require commas:
Months.
Do not use a comma when referring to a month within a particular year.
Example:
I conducted the study in
June 2003
.
Complex sentences.
Do not use a comma in a sentence that joins an independent clause and a dependent clause with a conjunction (
and
,
or
,
but
).
Example:
Smith (2001) found that results were consistent but also suggested further investigation.
Introducing quotations (seamless).
Do not use a comma when an independent clause seamlessly introduces a quotation.
Example:
Freud (1900) claimed
that “the
dreamer…assumes that the dream–even if it does not come from another world–has at all events transported the dreamer into another world” (p. 5).
Comma splices.
A comma splice occurs when two independent clauses (complete sentences) are separated by just a comma.
Example:
Jessica and I went to the movies, we had a good time.
There are many ways to correct the sentence above. Review the information on run-on sentences for examples of correctly joining independent clauses.
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8. Semicolons
Semicolon Basics
Semicolons
are punctuation marks used to separate parts of sentences. Use a semicolon in the following instances.
Two independent clauses.
Use a semicolon when separating two independent clauses that are not joined by a conjunction. Sentence Structure in English Nursing Essay Writing.
Example:
Jones (2014) argued that intelligence was fixed; Smith (2011) argued that ability could be fluid.
To join two independent clauses with a conjunctive adverb
(such as
however, therefore, consequently, nevertheless, furthermore, moreover
). Note that there is a semicolon before the conjunctive adverb and a comma after it.
Example
: This structure joins two independent clauses; moreover, it creates cohesion in the text by showing how one idea relates to another.
Example
: I had difficulty obtaining a large number of participants; however, I still reached saturation in the interviews. Sentence Structure in English Nursing Essay Writing.
Series.
Use a semicolon to separate elements in a series that already contains commas.
Example:
Amy ordered three pizzas: one with pepperoni, sausage, mushroom; one with bacon, ham, and green peppers; and one with tomatoes, olives, and red peppers.
Example:
Many have claimed that the sky is blue (Hawking, Goldberg, & Rita, 1994; Lima, 2003; Steinberg & Jordan, 2001).
For more information about semicolons, read on the following:
Sentence Structures and Types of Sentences
Run-Ons and Sentence Fragments
Varying Sentence Structures
In addition, refer to APA section 4.04 for more information about semicolon usage and Sentence Structure in English Nursing Essay Writing.