Minimize Compound Constructions

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Writing Tip

Use compound construction sparingly

First mentioned/ideated by: Anon

When you’re writing, it’s important to use simple, clear language. This means being careful with compound construction, which is when two or more independent clauses are joined together without a conjunction.

When used correctly, compound construction can create concise and powerful sentences. But when overused, it can make writing choppy and difficult to read.

To avoid compound construction

a. Use coordinating conjunctions (and, but, or, for) to join related clauses together

b. You can also use semicolons to join clauses that are closely related.

c. Break up the sentence into two or more simpler sentences. This will help to clarify the meaning and make the writing easier to follow.

Here are two examples of compound construction that often result in errors

i. One common mistake is using a comma instead of a semicolon to join two independent clauses. For example, "I want to go the store, but I don't have any money" is incorrect because it uses a comma instead of a semicolon. The sentence should be rewritten as "I want to go to the store; however, I don't have any money."

ii. Another common mistake is using a comma after the first independent clause when there should be no comma at all. For example, "I like going running, but I hate getting up early" is incorrect because there should be no comma after "running." The sentence should be rewritten as "I like going running but I hate getting up early".

Topics
Business Writing, Content Writing, Copywriting, Persuasive Writing, Creative Writing