WTE Sentences

The Simple Sentence

Simple sentences begin with the subject of the sentence (e.g he, she, it, they, I, someone's name, or a place).

Example: Wellington is the capital of New Zealand.

The Very Short Sentence

The very short sentence IS one of the most powerful sentence styles ever developed. Immediately, it grabs your attention. The rule: five words or fewer. 

Example: The bus is late.

The Power Sentence

If you find you waffle a bit, try the power sentence. Begin your paragraph with a power sentence of 12 words or fewer. Get straight to the point.

Example: Joe Biden is the new president in America.

Red, White, and Blue

Use the red, white, and blue sentence-style when you have several ideas to convey about a topic.

Example: The colours on the Ireland flag are green, white, and orange.

The Adverb Start

Start a sentence with an adverb, as it adds interest and intrigue. Remember the rule: when you start your sentence with an adverb, place a comma after the adverb then write the rest of the sentence.

Example: Firstly, I need to finish my work before I rest.

Begin with a Preposition

Try starting your sentence with a preposition. Prepositions are little words indicating movement or position.

Example: In 1945, World War II ended. 

The -ING Start

Try starting a sentence with the -ing form of a verb. The rule: when you have finished your -ing phrase, place a comma, then write the rest of the sentence:

Example: Looking at the time, I realized I was late for work.

The -ED Start

Try starting a sentence with the —ed form of the verb. It makes for a punchy opening to the sentence.

Example: Determined to finish my homework, I stayed up all night. 

The Semi-Colon

When you have two independent clauses (two mini-sentences) joined by a conjunction (e.g. and, but), you can remove the conjunction and replace it with a semi-colon.

Example: I have a test tomorrow; I have to study all night.

The Em-Dash

The em-dash in English is the long dash. Use the long dash to drop a phrase in a sentence that is at complete odds with the flow of the sentence—way out there—but which adds colour and interest.

Example: French Fries—a simple side dish—is one of my favourite food.

The W-Start Sentence

Try beginning a sentence with a W-word. Here are some: who, while, when, where, what, whereas. The W-start makes writing sound thoughtful and knowledgeable.

Example: When Liza was little, she used to cry every time.

                While I was watching a horror movie, my sister suddenly popped out of nowhere to scare                 me.

Explore the Subject

Accomplished writers use this sentence-style. The rule: begin your sentence with the subject then place a comma. Say something interesting about the subject. Place another comma. Then, finish your sentence.

Example: Liam, who is known as a great student, decided to sleep during class.                             

                Jhermaine, who wears glasses, likes science.