Simple Sentence Structure

Simple sentences are more easy to understand than complex ones. The simplest sentence structure in English is subject-verb-object-period, subject-verb-object-period and so on. Try to use the simplest sentences that make sense.

You should begin by writing simple sentences naturally when you’re thinking about adding something to Simple Wikipedia. In your mind, don’t phrase your sentence obscurely and then try to convert it to something simpler. Get in the habit of thinking in clear, direct English, without unnecessary words. But never be afraid to add a few words to make a sentence clearer. Simple English is not shorter English, although it frequently has shorter sentences.

In many cases, simple English requires more words than ordinary English. In part this is because of “filler words” (extra words), where the words act as a mental pause, allowing the reader to catch up with your thought. When converting something from the English Wikipedia, it’s not uncommon to find that your Simple English article takes up 25% to 50% more words than in standard English. In cases where the original English is poorly structured to begin with (usually in an attempt to seem erudite to others), you may consume upward of 200 or 300 percent more space.

Remember that this guideline, like all Wikipedia rules, is meant to be used with common sense. It is more important that you follow the spirit of simple sentence structure than reducing every possible sentence to its simplest form.

Guidelines

1. Always start by using simple sentences. For example:

• John Smith walked his dog.

Subject: John Smith

Verb: walked

Direct object: his dog

and

• John Smith walked his dog to the supermarket.

Subject: John Smith

Verb: walked

Direct object: his dog

Indirect object (also prepositional phrase): to the supermarket

but, if possible, not

• John Smith walked to the supermarket with his dog.

Subject: John Smith

Verb: walked

Two indirect objects referring to the subject: to the supermarket and with his dog

2. Try to avoid compound sentences – those with embedded conjunctions (and, or, but, however, etc.) – when possible. Write this:

• Good: John Smith walked his dog. Later, he was tired.

instead of

• Less good: John Smith walked his dog but later he was tired.

But this is not a guideline in favor of short sentences. For example:

• Good: John Smith walked his big, hairy dog, Bluto, to the supermarket on Main Street. Later, he was so tired that he collapsed onto his bed exhausted.

3. If you must use complex sentences – those with both independent clauses (which express a complete thought) and at least one subordinate clause (starting with a word like although, because, who, which, etc.) – try to have only one subordinate clause, like this:

• John Smith walked his dog to the supermarket because he was hungry.

Subject: John Smith

Verb: walked

Direct object: his dog

Indirect object (also prepositional phrase): to the supermarket

Dependent clause: because he was hungry

For example:

• Bad: John Smith, who was very tired, walked his dog to the supermarket because he was hungry but he returned to his home still hungry and even more tired because the market was closed.
• Clauses: who was very tired; because he was hungry; but he returned to his home; and even more tired and because the market was closed
• Better: John Smith was very tired. Nevertheless, he walked his dog to the supermarket because he was hungry. But the market was closed. So he returned to his home still hungry and even more tired.

4. Try not to use compound-complex sentences, with multiple independent and dependent clauses.

• Bad: John Smith walked his dog to the supermarket where he thought he might buy some apples, but Mary Jones, who considered herself superior to John (although many people believed that she didn’t have any reason to feel that way), arrived first and spitefully bought the remaining three apples and so John, who was mad as hell at Mary by this time, had to go home hungry anyway.
• Better: John Smith walked his dog to the supermarket. He thought he might buy some apples. But Mary Jones arrived first and bought the remaining three apples. She did this just for spite. (Mary considered herself superior to John. However, many people believed that she had no reason to feel that way.) By this time however, John was mad as hell at Mary. But he had to go home hungry anyway.

To sum up, the preferred sentence forms are:

1. Subject-Verb-DirectObject.
2. Subject-Verb-IndirectObject.
3. Subject-Verb-DirectObject-IndirectObject.
4. Subject-Verb-DirectObject-SubordinateClause.
5. Subject-Verb-DirectObject-IndirectObject-SubordinateClause.

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