Word Order

The Word Order is a must for every sentence.

The words in a sentence should be put in a proper order so that the intended meaning is understood.

Sometimes, the order in which a set of words is used in a sentence can give rise to ambiguity.

And they should be reordered to bring out the intended meaning clearly.

Example-1:

• A nursemaid is wanted to look after a baby about twenty-years old.

In this sentence it is not clear who is twenty-year old?

Whether the nursemaid or the baby?

Certainly it is only the nursemaid. So the proper word-order is:

• A nursemaid, about twenty-years old, is wanted to look after a baby.

Example-2:

• After the accident, I was for thirty days confined to the cot with swollen legs.

Here also it is not clear, who had the swollen legs?

Whether I or the cot?

Certainly it is only I.

So the correct sentence is:

• After the accident, I was confined with swollen legs to the cot for thirty days.

Example-3:

• The stool over there was purchased by my grandfather with three legs.

Here also who has three legs?

Whether the stool or my grandfather?

Certainly it is only the stool.

So the correct sentence is:

• The stool, with three legs, over there was purchased by my grandfather.

Example-4:

• These verses were written by a young man who has long since been dead for his own amusement.

The correct sentence is:

• These verses were written by a young man for his amusement, but he was long since been dead.

Example-5:

• You must not forget to visit the spot where Gandhi was assassinated during your trip to Delhi.

The correct word order is:

• During your trip to Delhi, You must not forget to visit the spot where Gandhi was assassinated.

Example-6:

• The man was brought before the Judge who had stolen the watch.

The correct word order is:

• The man, who had stolen the watch, was brought before the Judge.

Example-7:

• A publication may be used in any state where it regularly circulates under a unanimous ruling by the Supreme Court.

The correct word order is:

• Under a unanimous ruling by the Supreme Court, a publication may be sued for libel in any state in which it circulates.

Example-8:

• Promotions, retirements, deaths and other actions approved by the board of directors at its May meeting will be reported in the July issue of the company paper.

The correct word order is:

• The July issue of the company paper will report on Promotions, retirements and other actions approved by the board of directors at its May meeting ; the paper will also include obituaries.

These examples might have made the point very clear that the proper word-order is must for any sentence to be beautiful.

Go to the Advanced English Index to continue

HOME PAGE