Sentence variety
Demonstrating variety within a piece of writing
Using a variety of sentences can help you to create pace and tension in your writing. Experiment with different sentence lengths and types to build atmosphere, mood and suspense.
Varying sentence length
Use your sentence lengths to reflect the pace of the action in the narrativeThe sequence of events in a plot; a story.. On a basic level, short sentences can show a faster pace whereas longer sentences slow it down.
Here is an example using a long sentence:
He looked out of the window, noticing the girl who at that moment was walking towards the heavy door to the library.
Notice the difference in pace when the same scene is described with short sentences:
He looked out of the window. He noticed the girl. She was walking towards the library door.
Varying sentence openings
Vary the way that you start sentences to keep your writing interesting and lively. For example:
| Sentence opener type | Example |
| Simile - comparing something to something else | As quiet as a whisper, he turned to me |
| Preposition - informs you of the position of someone or something | Beyond the gate, the road stretched far away |
| Adverbs - an adjective to describe a verb | Cautiously, he moved away from the lion |
| Connectives – joining words | Despite the sunshine, Mr Tucker was wearing a heavy coat |
| Time preposition - moves the timeframe to a different point | Afterwards, it was clear that he regretted his actions |
| Sentence opener type | Simile - comparing something to something else |
|---|---|
| Example | As quiet as a whisper, he turned to me |
| Sentence opener type | Preposition - informs you of the position of someone or something |
|---|---|
| Example | Beyond the gate, the road stretched far away |
| Sentence opener type | Adverbs - an adjective to describe a verb |
|---|---|
| Example | Cautiously, he moved away from the lion |
| Sentence opener type | Connectives – joining words |
|---|---|
| Example | Despite the sunshine, Mr Tucker was wearing a heavy coat |
| Sentence opener type | Time preposition - moves the timeframe to a different point |
|---|---|
| Example | Afterwards, it was clear that he regretted his actions |
Here’s a piece of writing that lacks variety:
I woke up. The sun was beaming through the window and warmed my face. I turned towards it, closing my eyes to enjoy the moment. I stayed there for a moment, and then got out of bed. I padded across to the window. I opened it to hear the birds outside. It looked like it was going to be a good day.
Notice how sentence variety changes the feel of the piece:
I opened my eyes to the warmth of the sun that was beaming through the window. Turning towards it, I closed my eyes and enjoyed the moment. Moments later I got out of bed and padded across to the window. I opened it. I heard the birds outside. I knew it was going to be a good day.