19 Syntax & Style
It’s a complicated thing, putting ideas into words. For every feeling we have we want to tell someone, every experience we want to narrate, every notion we want to share, every bit of knowledge we want to explain, there are an infinite number of ways to compose sentences that do so. In this section, we establish some foundational terms for deconstructing and composing sentences and then review mechanics for each.
Often, beginning student writers’ primary concerns are about meeting page counts or source minimums to satisfy a particular assignment’s requirements. As students’ writing skills and confidences become stronger, however, they can start to focus less on filling pages and focus more on the craft of their writing, which can help enhance the thoughtfulness and clarity of their ideas.
There are two sets of meaning created when a student writes an essay:
- the writer’s main message
- the subtle but detailed style choices like syntax, style, and diction that help to enhance that main message.
What is “syntax”?
Syntax refers to sentence structure, the ways linguistic elements like words and punctuation are arranged to create meaning. Sentence length is a matter of syntax, as are complexity and the arrangement of clauses. Choosing different kinds of syntax allows writers to create their voice, persona, and particular meaning.
What is “diction”?
“Diction” refers to word choice and how writers assemble meaning by putting together certain words based on their sounds, literal meaning, and cultural connotations.
What is “style”?
“Style” is the way something is written, as opposed to the meaning of what is written. It refers to the way a writer constructs their sentences (syntax), chooses their words (diction), and uses their tone. “Style” is like an aesthetic; it carries the writer’s personality and influences their relationship to their readers. “Style” is often linked to particular genres. “Academic writing,” for example, is a genre that tends to require a particular style: formal, thoughtful, neutral, and authoritative. “Style” is not meaning but style influences meaning.
This list of elements of style include:
- sentence structure
- word choice or diction
- active or passive voice
- verb tense
- mood or tone
Syntax
Parts of a Sentence
Subject: Usually contains a noun or pronoun and is the topic of the sentence and does an action.
Predicate: This is the action that the subject does.
Direct vs. Indirect object: Ex. Sally bakes Joe a cake. The cake receives the action of being baked, which makes it the direct object; however, the cake is baked for Joe, so he is the indirect object.
Independent clause: Contains a subject and predicate and can stand alone as a sentence. ( Ex. I run., He eats., They laugh.)
Dependent (subordinate) clause: Group of words that can’t stand alone as a complete sentence, but is dependent on, or subordinate to, the independent clause. (Ex. Although I run,).
Prepositional phrase: a group of words that begins