Sentence Bytes

Before: Our children are our future, is an often quoted statement, which ideally refers to the fact that it is our children who have the power to initiate growth, progress and change in the times to come. After: Our children are our future. This is an oft-quoted statement, which re-iterates that it is our children who have the power to initiate growth, progress and change in times to come.  Notes a. Never place a comma before a verb. ‘Is’ - is a verb.  b. 'often quoted’ is usually written as 'oft-quoted’ c. Don’t use ‘ideally’ unnecessarily. d. 'the times to come.’  to be changed to ‘times to come’. ‘The’ is a definite article. Please read up on the use of definite articles here:  https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/540/01/ e. Avoid constructions with ‘the fact that’ as much as possible.

As an editor, I come across sentences every day. Good sentences, bad sentences, sentences that make me think, sentences that I have to rephrase for clarity... The famous linguist David Crystal wrote the book, 'Words, Words, Words'. The not-so-famous me will have to be content with this blog. I'm calling it 'Sentence Bytes' since I deal with sentences all day and the current plan is to feature a sentence per blog post, pointing out how it was in its 'BEFORE' avatar and how it is in its 'AFTER' avatar. Writers, editors, and anyone who loves the English language will find this interesting I guess. You will see just what an editor's work is all about. I love my job and hope it loves me back enough to keep me employed for a long time to come:)