1What is online journalism? - Ayo Menulis FISIP UAJY

Writing 105
Sentences
You should always try to write directly. The basic structure of
subject, verb and then object is a sound model. So, the boy caught
the ball, not the ball was caught by the boy.
Sentences that start with a subordinate clause can be another
example of indirect writing. After I have finished this cup of tea, I
will go into the garden is self-evidently less direct than I will go into
the garden after I have finished this cup of tea. If you find yourself
starting a sentence with ‘after’, ‘during’, ‘although’, etc., stop and
consider whether that is the best structure.
Keep your sentences short and to the point. You can start your
sentence well, with the main clause, but still find it trailing off in
a clutter of subordinate clauses. These will need re-writing as
shorter sentences.
As Leslie Sellers remarks in his invaluable text, The Simple Subs
Book (1968) 3 :
‘. . . over-long sentences are death to readability. They are
usually of involved construction, and involved sentences have
to be read twice to get their full meaning . . . Nothing that
can’t be absorbed at first reading ought to appear in a
newspaper. Yet night after night and week after week these
jigsaw puzzles get into print.’
A good rule to avoid convoluted sentences is to limit each to
communicating one basic thought or piece of information.
But avoid making all your sentences short and snappy. This can
produce an unpleasant staccato, machine-gun effect that is
wearing for the reader. A mix of sentence lengths can improve the
rhythm of your writing. It also accentuates the dramatic impact of
short sentences when you use them for that reason.
Do not be afraid of breaking the basic rules of grammar if it
enhances the effectiveness of your message. Journalists write
3 Harold Evans’ book Newsman’s English languished out of print for many years
until a campaign was waged successfully by journalists and those teaching
journalism to get a new edition published. I often think a similar movement
should be launched to bring Seller’s book back into public circulation, for the
benefit of young journalists and students.