Sentence Emphasis

Philip Thompson
Eng 420

Hello, I am Philip Thompson, and this is my grammar mini lesson presentation on

sentence emphasis for my english 420 class.
 Purpose of Sentence Emphasis
The idea behind sentence emphasis is to understand the ways to draw attention
to a particular point within a sentence or series of sentences. There are many
ways that this can be accomplished, and understanding these strategies can
help you to guide your readers focus within your writing.

The idea behind sentence emphasis is to understand the ways to draw attention to a particular
point within a sentence or series of sentences. There are many ways that this can be
accomplished, and understanding these strategies can help you to guide your readers focus
within your writing.
 Sentence
Coordination
This video game is fun. The graphics

Structure
are amazing.

One way to add emphasis to a Not only is this video game fun, but the
sentence is through sentence graphics are amazing.
structure. You can use coordinating
Subordination
clauses to show that two points are
This video game is fun. It’s graphics
equally important, while a subordinate
aren’t very good though.
clause can deemphasize certain parts
of a sentence. These are referred to as
coordination and subordination This video game is fun even though the
respectively. graphics aren’t very good.

One way to add emphasis to a sentence is through sentence structure. You can use
coordinating clauses to show that two points are equally important, while a subordinate clause
can deemphasize certain parts of a sentence. These are referred to as coordination and
subordination respectively. The examples on the right side of this page help to demonstrate
these concepts. With the coordination example, connecting words are used to combine the
information into one sentence, with both pieces of information being shown as equally
important. In contrast, the subordination example combines the information while emphasized
the quality of the game, and deemphasizing the quality of the graphics.
Subordination and Coordination cont.
Both of these strategies use connecting words or phrases in order to
take two separate thoughts and bring them together, with the
emphasis placed where the writer wants it to be.

Coordination Subordination
● And ● After
● But ● Although
● Or ● Because
● Moreover ● Even though
● Therefore ● Unless
● As a matter of fact ● Whether

Both of these strategies use connecting words or phrases in order to take two separate
thoughts and bring them together, with the emphasis placed where the writer wants it to
be. Below are examples of the kinds of words or phrases that are used in order to employ
either of these two strategies. While these words work, they are just a few examples of
all of the words or phrases that an be used for this purpose.
 Sentence Length
Examples:

● Due to unfortunate weather

conditions, tuesdays practice
has been cancelled. We will
resume football practice on
thursday. Be there.
● He was short. He was slow. He
was uncoordinated. But John
knew that the last remaining
spot on the basketball team
just had to be his.
Another great tool to add emphasis to a
particular sentence or thought is
through sentence length. Variation in a
text’s structure help to add emphasis.
For example, an occasional short
sentence can make a point more
dramatic, while several shorter
sentences can make a longer one stand
out as more significant.

Another great tool to add emphasis to a particular sentence or thought is through sentence
length. Variation in a text’s structure help to add emphasis. For example, an occasional short
sentence can make a point more dramatic, while several shorter sentences can make a longer
one stand out as more significant. In the first example on the left the final sentence is made to
seem more emphatic and forceful by it’s contrast to the longer sentences that precede it. In
contrast the second example uses the length of the final sentence to emphasize it’s point
almost in spite of all the shorter sentences that precede it.
 Common Errors
Excessive
coordination
Coordination, as shown
earlier helps to establish
two pieces of
information as being
equally important.
However, when it is used
excessively, it makes it
difficult to distinguish
what part of a sentence
is most important.
Subordinating
major clauses
Subordination is used
deemphasize one point of
information in order to
place the other part of the
sentence as the focus.
However, if the sentence is
worded wrongly, with the
desired focus information
within a subordinate clause
it will have the opposite
effect.
Choppy
structure
The use of short
sentences for emphasis
works well when
contrasted with longer
sentences to create a
variety within a piece of
writing. However, too
many short sentences
can make a piece feel
choppy and broken up.

While employing sentence emphasis can help to draw focus to information of

particular import, these common mistakes can actually produce the opposite effect.
Excessive coordination can make it difficult to distinguish where one’s focus should
be, as all points of information are presented as equally important. In contrast, by
subordinating major clauses one can accidentally draw focus away from the
information that they wish to emphasize. In addition, the use of too many short
sentences can make a piece of writing seem choppy, broken up and difficult to
understand.
Sentence Emphasis
Instruction Example:

When teaching sentence emphasis in ● I was driving down Drury lane. I

the classroom it would be best done got hit by a car.
as simple language exercise in a style ● Abe Lincoln was born in 1809. He
such as daily language review. was the 16th president.
Students would be given sentences ● Social networking offers ways to
and asked to decide which pieces of connect in a virtual setting. They
information are most important. They don’t replace face to face
would then use coordination or interactions.
subordination in order to combine the
sentences and place the emphasis
where they see fit.

When teaching sentence emphasis in the classroom it would be best done as simple language
exercise in a style such as daily language review. Students would be given sentences and
asked to decide which pieces of information are most important. They would then use
coordination or subordination in order to combine the sentences and place the emphasis
where they see fit. In each of the examples on the right, students can choose which
information they deem to be most significant, and use coordination or subordination to create
a variety of sentence options that displace focus as deemed appropriate.
The Significance of Grammar

Grammar helps to shape our shared understanding of language, creating a

foundation for communication. The basic grammatical structures of language
make it so that our words can be combined to take on more complex meaning.
Going beyond simple grammatical structure, techniques such as sentence
emphasis help us to more clearly express the information that we wish for others
to understand. Grammar takes language and helps to turn it into true and
powerful communication in which though meaning and information can be
clearly transferred between individuals.

Grammar helps to shape our shared understanding of language, creating a foundation for
communication. The basic grammatical structures of language make it so that our words can
be combined to take on more complex meaning. Going beyond simple grammatical structure,
techniques such as sentence emphasis help us to more clearly express the information that
we wish for others to understand. Grammar takes language and helps to turn it into true and
powerful communication in which though meaning and information can be clearly transferred
between individuals.
 References
Williams, P. (2018). How to Add Emphasis in Writing. Retrieved from
https://englishlessonsbrighton.co.uk/how-to-add-emphasis-in-writing/

Hacker, D. (2015). A writer's reference. Eighth edition. Boston ; New York:

Bedford/St. Martin's.