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Sentence Tip #4 - The Puzzle and Payoff of Periodic Sentences

Started by goodwordediting · 9 months ago

You know the story of Archimedes. Given the task of making sure the king’s crown was pure gold, he puzzled and puzzled (til his puzzler was sore). Then he took a bath. And noticed the water level rise as he entered the tub.
Suddenly the answer came to him.

If the king ... Continue reading »

20 comments

  • Eve Nielsen

    2 years ago

    If you want to run outside in your birthday suit because of an epiphany, make sure it's not 40 below first.
    reply
  • Marcus

    2 years ago

    Eve, good to hear from you. Sorry that I still haven't responded to your comments from earlier in the week.

    Great periodic sentence. Of course, in Texas where I live, it's hot. (High of 77 F, 25 C today.)
    reply
  • Eve Nielsen

    2 years ago

    I don't mind-I have three kids, homeschool, keep house, and write, so I understand that things get done eventually:)
    Thanks
    Eve
    reply
  • L.L. Barkat

    2 years ago

    Speechless.
    reply
  • Craver-VII

    2 years ago

    Holy-moly! That was a doozie of an example sentence, Mark. Give yourself a gold star!

    You know, Mark, the way you led us around, giving us practical examples, while staying on topic, and even making it funny, probably having to have to stop for air at least a couple of times because of its length, just goes to show you’re a master wordsmith.
    reply
  • Marcus

    2 years ago

    L.L. Fragments come later, but they can be a really powerful syntax tool too.

    Cormac McCarthy's style is characterized by fragments of all kinds. He's really a master at them.
    reply
  • Marcus

    2 years ago

    Craver, aw shucks. Thanks for the kind words. And you win the prize for most complimentary independent clause.

    (Also, L.L., that last comment was supposed to be a joke. Just read it as if I am adopting some sort of mock grandiose tone. It didn't really come through in the text.)
    reply
  • L.L. Barkat

    2 years ago

    Understood. :)

    Really.

    Immediately.

    Without explanation.

    No kidding.
    reply
  • Marcus

    2 years ago

    L.L., you crack me up! I really want to spend some time posting comments on everyone's blog, but I've gotta run out to Laity Lodge for a retreat. Fortunately, there's no internet, no cell service, no phone, no TV, and no radio out there. Unfortunately, that means I'll have to talk to all of you next week.
    reply
  • Craver-VII

    2 years ago

    Alas, I cannot accept the prize, because it is a well established fact, everybody knows that the most complimentary independent clause was the young Chris Kringle as he courted his soon-to-be bride.
    reply
  • Charity Singleton

    2 years ago

    Wishing I could head to a place where there's no internet, no cell service, no phone, no TV, and no radio, knowing that the brief silence might make up for a week that has been far too hectic, I envy you.

    That wasn't very good, but I tried. Craver really is the best at these. He deserves to win all kinds of prizes!

    Hope the retreat is restful.
    reply
  • Julia King

    2 years ago

    Having found your blog without asking or even trying, and after delighting in the grammatical grandiosity contained within while feeling the weight of how little I actually know about sentence structure, you should know this site is going on my blogroll immediately.

    Ok I tried! It took me forever (perhaps I should count that as break time from work). It's just not the natural tone in which I write. Let me know if I need to learn more about clauses before trying this again.

    Have a great week, Marcus.
    reply
  • L.L. Barkat

    2 years ago

    Charity... yes, this is a thing to want. It can be had very close to home, I suppose, with a little creativity. What do you think?
    reply
  • Eve Nielsen

    2 years ago

    Try in the bath tub with your ears under water. I can't hear my kids and hubby (wrestling and shrieking and laughing) like this:)
    reply
  • Marcus

    2 years ago

    Craver, groooooaaaan. But I smiled.

    Charity, you did great! And it was a really good retreat. I got to hang out with some really cool artists, musicians, and writers. I tried to keep a low profile, but I couldn't resist asking them a few questions. It sounds like they are going to be part of the blog network that is starting soon. (We're waiting on the Terms of Service from the lawyer--details, details, details.)

    Julia, yea! So good to hear from you here. I'm really curious how you found me without trying, though. Thanks for all your help on the work stuff last week. I appreciate your advice.

    L.L., I can unplug close to home, but it is so hard. Most of the time, I just don't have the self-discipline for it. I try to limit the distractions around me as much as possible.

    Eve, those all sound like things you should want to hear! It sounds like your house is full of joy--and that's a very good thing.

    Thanks everyone for the comments, and for being patient while I took my little time away. It was good.
    reply
  • L.L. Barkat

    2 years ago

    Welcome back.

    (Oh, sorry, is that a fragment again?)
    reply
  • Eve Nielsen

    2 years ago

    >Eve, those all sound like things you should want to hear! It sounds like your house is full of joy–and that’s a very good thing
    reply
  • Marcus

    2 years ago

    L.L., no need to apologize for fragments, though technically, I think "Welcome back" just has an implied subject and object:

    [I] Welcome [you] back.

    Something along the lines of the imperative mood that implies the subject "you."

    As in:

    [You] Comment anytime, hon!
    reply
  • L.L. Barkat

    2 years ago

    How do you keep all this straight in your brain? You must have a different filing system than me.

    Imperative mood. Sounds like a clinical diagnosis of chronic bossiness.
    reply
  • Eve Nielsen

    2 years ago

    Wierd, only half of my comment came out! What I was trying to say was that a mother's ears can only take so much joyful sounds:)
    reply

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