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Concise Guide to APA Style: 7th Edition (OFFICIAL)
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Understanding Grammar and Writing Style: A Deep Dive
This excerpt from an ebook on grammar and writing style offers valuable insights into common errors and techniques for improving clarity and coherence.
The focus is on avoiding ambiguity and ensuring parallelism in sentence structure.
Dangling Modifiers: Avoiding Ambiguity
The section on dangling modifiers highlights a common pitfall in writing: “Dangling modifiers have no referent in the sentence.
Many of these result from the use of the passive voice (see Section 2.13).
You can avoid many dangling modifiers by writing in the active voice.” This underscores the importance of active voice in clear communication.
Passive voice can often lead to unclear sentence construction, leaving the reader unsure of who or what is performing the action.
The excerpt provides a clear example:
- Incorrect: “Using this procedure, the participants were tested.”
- Correct: “Using this procedure, I tested the participants.”
The rationale emphasizes that in the incorrect example, it’s unclear who used the procedure.
By rewriting in the active voice, the sentence becomes unambiguous.
This simple change significantly enhances clarity.
Another example points out the importance of logical connections:
- Incorrect: “Armitage and Martinez (2017) found that the treatment group performed better, a result congruent with those of other studies.”
- Correct: “Congruent with other studies, Armitage and Martinez (2017) found that the treatment group performed better.”
Here, the issue is that the result, not Armitage and Martinez, is congruent.
By rephrasing and placing the modifier correctly, the intended meaning is conveyed accurately.
Parallel Construction: Enhancing Understanding
The excerpt then transitions to parallel construction, explaining its role in reader comprehension: “To enhance readers understanding, present parallel ideas in parallel or coordinate form.
Use parallel structure in compound sentences, series and lists (see Sections 4.11-4.14), and table stubs (see Section 7.12).” Parallel construction involves presenting similar ideas using the same grammatical structure, creating a sense of balance and coherence.
The text emphasizes the importance of consistency: “Ensure that all elements of the parallelism are present before and after the coordinating conjunction (e.g., “and,” “but,” “or,” “nor”).
For example, if the first part of the clause is introduced by “that,” the second part of the clause should be as well.” This meticulous attention to detail is crucial for creating polished and professional writing.
An example illustrates this point:
- Incorrect: “Ford (2020) found that homework is positively related to achievement, and that the association is stronger in middle and high school than in elementary school.”
- Correct: “Ford (2020) found that homework is positively related to achievement and that the association is stronger in middle and high school than in elementary school.”
The removal of the comma in the corrected sentence demonstrates how subtle changes can improve the flow and readability of the text.
Coordinating Conjunctions: Precise Placement
The final point addresses the proper use of coordinating conjunctions in pairs: “With coordinating conjunctions used in pairs (“between .. . and,” “both… and,’ “neither… nor, “either … or, “not only … but also’), place the first conjunction immediately before the first part of the parallelism.” This ensures clarity and avoids awkward phrasing.
The correct usage of “between” and “and” is exemplified:
- Correct: “We recorded the difference between the performance of participants who completed the first task and the performance of those who completed the second task.”
This example highlights how precise language contributes to a well-written and easily understood sentence.
Conclusion
This excerpt provides a concise yet comprehensive overview of two essential aspects of grammar and writing style: avoiding dangling modifiers and utilizing parallel construction.
By adhering to these principles, writers can create clear, concise, and engaging prose.
The examples provided serve as practical guides for identifying and correcting common errors, ultimately enhancing the overall quality of writing.
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