Children across America cheered when Dr. Seuss' The Cat in the Hat was first released. It was easy to read and had cool pictures. But best of all, it was interesting. No more "See Jane run. See Spot run. See Jane and Spot run." Theodor Geisel had changed the nature of children's primers by deviating from the traditional monotonous primer style. Instead of using nothing but short, simple, choppy sentences, as children were used to, Geisel worked the same 25 words throughout his text to reinforce vocabulary, and he did this in longer, silly, and varied sentences. It's no wonder his books continue to fly off the shelves today. When a child has a choice between a Dick and Jane primer and Green Eggs and Ham, that child is far more likely to choose "I like green eggs and ham! I do! I like them, Sam-I-am!"

Whether or not you're writing for children, you should watch your own writing for signs of primer-style construction. There's nothing wrong with using short sentences, especially when they're used with a variety of other, more complex sentences. Short sentences pack a punch. But if you find that your text is reading choppy, check for the overuse of primer-style construction. Variety and surprise keep the reader alert and interested, and the same goes for the construction of sentences. A text that reads in primer style is often flagged as amateur.

Here are a few examples of how to create more complex sentences, not only making them more suitable for an intelligent audience but also making the most concise and effective use of words.

• Combine independent clauses:
  
  1. We traveled to the desert. We forgot to bring water.
     
  2. We traveled to the desert but forgot to bring water.
     
  3. We traveled to the desert; however, we forgot to bring water.
  
  
• Use a subordinate clause:
  
  1. Officer Smith had only two years on the job. He was assigned to the toughest neighborhood.
     
  2. Although Officer Smith had only two years on the job, he was assigned to the toughest neighborhood.
  
  
• Eliminate repetition:
  
  1. My dog is a Beagle. My dog is named Sally. My dog loves to run along the riverbank.
     
  2. My dog Sally is a Beagle who loves to run along the riverbank.
  
  
• Use "and" to join two related ideas:
  
  1. In school Sally learned to multiply double digits. She also learned how to divide fractions.
     
  2. In school Sally learned to multiply double digits and divide fractions.
  
  
• Use "but" to show contrast:
  
  1. Officer Smith had only two years on the job. He was assigned to the toughest neighborhood.
     
  2. Officer Smith had only two years on the job, but he was assigned to the toughest neighborhood.
  
  
• Use a participle phrase:
  
  1. Mr. Jones decided to go bowling without his wife. He wanted to join his friends for a men's night out.
     
  2. Deciding to go bowling without his wife, Mr. Jones planned to join his friends for a men's night out.
  
  
• Use an absolute phrase:
  
  1. Bob clutched his trophy firmly to his chest. He left the bowling alley with a triumphant grin.
     
  2. His trophy clutched firmly to his chest, Bob left the bowling alley with a triumphant grin.

Copyright © 2008 Ronnie L. Smith Writer's Relief, Inc. is a highly recommended author's submission service. Established in 1994, Writer's Relief will help you target the best markets for your creative writing. Visit their Web site at http://www.writersrelief.com to receive their FREE Writers' Newsflash which contains valuable leads, guidelines, and deadlines for writing in all genres.