Sentence Structure Use present tense whenever possible. in the first person whenever possible. Place words carefully. Avoid large gaps between the subject, verb, and object. Do not misplace modifiers. Place modifiers near the word or phrase modified. Examples: Not: We sent our letter explaining that we denied the claimant benefits on July 1, 2012. But: On July 1, 2012, we sent our letter explaining that we denied the claimant benefits. (The intent is to tell the reader the date we sent the letter, not the date we denied the claimant benefits.) Not: The prosecutor sought indictments of four people for alleged voter registration fraud one week before the 2012 election. But: One week before the 2012 election, the prosecutor sought indictments of four people for alleged registration fraud. (The intent is to tell the reader when the prosecutor sought indictments, not when the alleged voter registration fraud occurred.) Avoid dangling modifiers. An introductory phrase or clause modifies the subject of the main clause. A modifier dangles if the introductory phrase or clause does not name a subject and the subject of the clause that follows is not the actor. To correct a dangling modifier: name the subject in the introductory phrase or clause; or name the subject in the clause that immediately follows the introductory phrase or clause. Example: Not: When tackling the quarterback, my collarbone broke. (In this sentence, “my collarbone” tackled the quarterback.) But: When I tackled the quarterback, my collarbone broke. (We added the subject to the “I” introductory phrase.) When tackling the quarterback, I broke my collarbone. (We added the subject to the “I” main clause).
Sentence Structure Use present tense whenever possible. in the first person whenever possible. Place words carefully. Avoid large gaps between the subject, verb, and object. Do not misplace modifiers. Place modifiers near the word or phrase modified. Examples: Not: We sent our letter explaining that we denied the claimant benefits on July 1, 2012. But: On July 1, 2012, we sent our letter explaining that we denied the claimant benefits. (The intent is to tell the reader the date we sent the letter, not the date we denied the claimant benefits.) Not: The prosecutor sought indictments of four people for alleged voter registration fraud one week before the 2012 election. But: One week before the 2012 election, the prosecutor sought indictments of four people for alleged registration fraud. (The intent is to tell the reader when the prosecutor sought indictments, not when the alleged voter registration fraud occurred.) Avoid dangling modifiers. An introductory phrase or clause modifies the subject of the main clause. A modifier dangles if the introductory phrase or clause does not name a subject and the subject of the clause that follows is not the actor. To correct a dangling modifier: name the subject in the introductory phrase or clause; or name the subject in the clause that immediately follows the introductory phrase or clause. Example: Not: When tackling the quarterback, my collarbone broke. (In this sentence, “my collarbone” tackled the quarterback.) But: When I tackled the quarterback, my collarbone broke. (We added the subject “I” to the introductory phrase.) When tackling the quarterback, I broke my collarbone. (We added the subject “I” to the main clause).
QUICC_Handbook.docx