Sins of Syntax

 I often get stopped by people who hear that I love writing. Then they either tell me that they hate it with a passion or that they love it but say that they aren't very good.

Sure, it's possible to be good at writing and not like it very much, but I believe that much of their problem is just that their syntax doesn't agree.

Here's a definition that my professor provided to explain syntax:

"Syntax states the rules for using words, phrases, clauses and punctuation, specifically to form sentences. Correct syntax examples include word choice, matching number and tense, and placing words and phrases in the right order." -- yourdictionary.com

Little situations like this don't seem important when you first start but have you ever read a piece that didn't do these things? It's cringey and difficult to read. It drops your proficiency and degrades your writing in any situation. You want your syntax to agree when you're writing a presentation, an essay, or even just fanfiction. 

1. Word choice effects meaning and tone

This clears up definitions in your writing. When you're reading in a textbook and the writer is trying to explain to you that there is something wrong with the epidermis, you might just sit back and be like, "What even is that?" There might be some context clues but that's not usually enough for a clear understanding. Often definitions need to be explained to the reader at least once that when you use that word or other jargon. So when your science textbook says epidermis, remind the reader that is the surface of the skin.

There is also a time and place for jargon. Listen, we know you're smart. But if you're writing a fiction scene and the hero just dramatically took an arrow above the clavicle, it takes you out of the scene. Because now most readers will either be struggling to dig for context clues or will have to stop and look up what that is when it would be equally fine to just say "collar bone." 

Obviously there are exceptions, there will be times to use language like that, but it changes the tone in your story. One word over another can change the reader's perception of a character. 

2. Agreement

This is all about subject and verb agreement. If there are plural subjects you need plural verbs. 

    Each of the strawberries have little green stems. Or Each of the strawberries has a little green stem. 

In this case we would use 'has' because we are talking not just about the strawberries, but we are talking about each one individually. Who has a little green stem? Each strawberry.

Another important example is person switching, make sure when you're writing that you don't switch your what point of view you're using randomly in the middle. They often get confusing. No, sorry I'm kidding. It gets confusing.

3. Verb tense

There are a lot of ways to explain this, but mainly just watch your time. When you choose to write in the past, present, or future tense make sure you stick to it, especially with verbs. 

    John will work hard on his project while his daughter played on the swings. 

There's all kinds of tenses here, we'd rather pick one and say:

    John works hard on his project while his daughter plays on the the swings. 

4. Placing modifiers

Modifiers are words that change and describe something about a subject. But it matters what order they go in. And we often do it without realizing it!

In a tweet from Mathew Anderson, he shows this quote:

While I sip tea from my purple I made three hours ago round from the microwave cup and saucer, you can think about how true this is.