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Avoid flotsam phrases or “fillers”, they idly Did not have support Lacked support
float in a sentence without carrying any Did not recall Forgot
Not apposite Inapposite
meaning
Outdated
◦ E.g. It seems to me that, in terms of, my Not current
Unimportant; trivial
Not important
sense is that, in the first instance, the fact
Accidental
Not on purpose
that
(generally, often)
Not unreliable Reliable
State thoughts positively, not negatively
Of no use Useless
◦ E.g. The decision is not wrong
Instead of increasing
Say decreasing emphasis
deemphasis
Structure your thoughts simply and A sentence must be so written that the punch
directly word comes at the end
The end is emphatic explains why periodic
Order your thoughts sensibly, logically
sentences work
Make an itinerary / outline ◦ E.g. But when for the first time I was called to speak
“Start strong, end strong” vs. “building on such an occasion as this, the only thought that
could come into my mind, the only feeling that
up” vs. “scatter-shot” vs. could fill my heart, the only words that could spring
“hodgepodge” attack to my lips, were a hymn to her in whose name we
are met here tonight – to our mistress, the law
Monotonous attack vs. crescendo and (O.W. Holmes, The Law)
decrescendo attack
The beginning and ending of the Develop the art of subordination – knowing
sentence is likewise a point of what to make less important and more
emphasis important
◦ E.g. 1. Law is the current of society ◦ Rank ideas
and also an essential medium of ◦ Gramatically subordinate the lesser ideas
change. to the greater by putting the lesser ideas
◦ E.g. 2. no answer is what the wrong in dependent clauses and the greater in
question begs main clauses
Try to use short sentences / simple
◦ Don’t hesitate to use conjunctions such as
declarative sentences
after, although, as, because, before, if, so,
etc.
Rewrite : When the judge entered the If ideas are of equal or unequal importance,
courtroom, everybody rose clarify their relations through parallel
phrasing with the use of “parallel
Rewrite : The Court, in the course of
coordinators” which work best in long
the hearing, noted that the accident sentences
had occurred in Bakakeng Central, ◦ E.g. Although/yet; both/and; either/or;
Baguio City. The Court found that it first/second/third; if/then; just as/so;
was a proper forum in which to try the neither/nor; not/but; not only/but also;
issues. The Court therefore denied the not only/but . . . as well, when/then;
motion to transfer venue. where/there