Grammar, Punctuation and Capitalization - Handbook for Technical ...

Chapter 2. Sentence Structure Page 41• Different takes the preposition from:PoorBetterThe measurements on the lower surface showed a differenttrend than those on the upper surface.The measurements on the lower surface showed a differenttrend from those on the upper surface.Bernstein (1981) explains the rare occasions when different than is appropriate to avoid the elaborate constructionfrom that which:In error analysis, standard deviation may be calculated with a different equation than in statisticalanalysis.Just as demonstrative pronouns are sometimes needed to cornplete a comparison (section 2.5.2), they aresometimes needed with different:PoorBetterThe interpretation of "standard deviation" in error analysisis different from statistical analysis.The interpretation of "standard deviation" in error analysisis different from that in statistical analysis.The..., theAn effective method of comparison is the idiomatic correlative construction involving the ..., the:The lower the temperature, the more brittle the steel becomes.2.6. EmphasisThe subject of sentence emphasis is often neglected by authors and editors. Many writers must resort tounderlining (or italicizing) to emphasize an idea because they do not understand methods of emphasis (see section3.9.1). Editors who do not pay attention to emphasis cannot assist these authors and, worse yet, may overlookthe effect that editorial revisions have on sentence emphasis."Any sentence markedly different from the preceding sentences receives stress-a short sentence after several longones; a periodic sentence after loose sentences; a simple sentence after a series of complex, compound, orcompound-complex sentences" (Tichy and Fourdrinier 1988). Be sure that a contrasting sentence contains animportant idea.2.6.1. Emphasizing With Sentence StructureThe above quote from Tichy and Fourdrinier illustrates a most effective method of emphasis: parallelism. Asdiscussed in sections 1.8.1 and 2.3, parallelism is grammatically required at times. It can also be used to