How to write a killer sentence
Because not all sentences are created equal
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What is a sentence?
A set of words that is complete in itself, usually containing a subject, a verb and an object: the cat sat on the mat.
It can be a statement, a question, an exclamation, or a command:
- The cat sat on the mat.
- Did the cat sit on the mat?
- That cat’s sitting on the mat!
- Sit on the mat, cat!
It usually has a main clause, but it can also have one or more subordinate clauses connected by a conjunction (and, but, if, when etc.):
- The cat sat on the mat.
- The cat sat on the mat whenever it felt hungry, sad or flat.
Changing the syntax (arrangement of words) of a sentence can radically alter its meaning:
- The cat sat on the mat.
- The mat sat on the cat.
We can give a sentence color, texture and movement with the help of adjectives and action verbs:
- The rugged cat sat purring on the pink mat.
We can give a sentence rhythm and we can play with its internal sounds(alliteration, assonance):
- The cat spent most of its time picking, poking, pouncing and purring on the mat.
Some sentences can open paragraphs (topic sentence) and some can close them (concluding sentence).
- The history of the cat that sat on the mat can be divided into three main periods: the catatonic, the catalectic and the cataclysmic.
- In sum, the crucial link between the periods of cats in the tortuous history of the cat that sat on the mat is black fur.
Inside a paragraph, sentences fit together like bricks in a wall.
They serve a common goal: communicating meaning to a reader.
Which brings me to a crucial point: some sentences help create context, precisely in order for other sentences to stand out.
Check out my workshop on writing with clarity for more on making your writing stand out.
