Cure Sentence Quote by John Gardner
““Another bad cure is the sentence awkwardly stretched out by a "that" or "which" clause. For example, "Leaping from the couch he seized the revolver from the bookshelf that stood behind the armchair," or, "She turned, shrieking, throwing up her arms in terror at the sight of the gorilla that had arrive that morning from Africa, which had formerly been its home." What happens in such sentences, obviously, is that they tend to trail off, lose energy.””
About This Quote
The author critiques overly complex sentences that use dangling “that/which” clauses, which cause the prose to lose momentum and clarity.
In simple terms: Complicated clauses drain a sentence’s energy.
Key Takeaway
Simplify sentences for clarity.
Themes
writing style
clarity
syntax
Mood
analytical
instructive
Type
educational
technical
When to use this quote
- academic writing
- creative writing
- editing workshops
Key Concepts
sentence structure
editing
readability
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you tighten a sentence?
- What impact do clauses have on reader engagement?
A Different Perspective
Complex sentences can obscure meaning.
