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 Helping you communicate more effectively

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Food for thought

Words are a wonderful form of communication, but they will never replace kisses and punches.

Ashleigh Brilliant

Grammar time

Dangling participles

Dangling participles can cause confusion. A participle should describe the grammatical subject of a sentence, e.g.: ‘While driving my car, I witnessed an accident.’

With a dangling participle, we describe something other than the grammatical subject, e.g.: 'While driving my car, my 10-year-old played his Nintendo DS'.

Grammatically, the participle driving must relate to my 10-year-old, so we have a 10-year-old who is driving illegally and playing a Nintendo DS! So it's always best to construct sentences in a way that is unambiguous.

Tips for plain English

Keep sentences short

It's easier for your reader to absorb your message if you keep your sentences short - around 15 to 20 words. By removing repetition and verbiage, using lists and headings properly, and shortening sentences, your reader will grasp your message faster. Their information retention will also be higher.

If a sentence is too long - split and disconnect. Full stops allow your readers to digest your latest point and prepare for the next.

Compare these two statements:

1.   I understand that some doctors making night calls have been attacked in recent months on the expectation that they were carrying drugs and their caution when visiting certain areas in the south of the city has been very exacting and has even included telephoning the address to be visited from their car when they arrive outside the house.

2.   I understand that some doctors making night calls have been attacked in recent months on the expectation that they were carrying drugs. Their caution when visiting certain areas in the south of the city has been very exacting. It has even included telephoning the address to be visited from their car when they arrive outside the house.

Sometimes a sentence is lengthened by needless repetition.

Compare these two letters:

1.   Dear Sirs

     Trial of John Smith and James Jackson

     The above defendants are to be tried at Sydney Supreme Court on Tuesday 2 October 2007 at 10.30 a.m. for several offences under the Trade Descriptions Act 1968 concerning the supply of motor vehicles to which false trade descriptions had been applied.

2.   Dear Sirs

     Trial of John Smith and James Jackson

     The above defendants are to be tried for several offences concerning the supply of motor vehicles to which false trade descriptions had been applied.

Word of advice          Issue 8          [back to archives list]