Writing well means having a solid grasp of English grammar. Simple, compound, and complex sentences make up grammar’s foundation.
A simple sentence contains one subject and one verb.
Example: The cat (subject) went (verb) to the store.
If a phrase lacks a subject or a verb, it is a sentence fragment. Only complete sentences use end punctuation, such as periods, question marks, or exclamation points.
A sentence, whether simple, compound, or complex, can accomplish one of four things. It can
State facts
Give a command
Ask a question
Exclaim information (i.e., this is where you use an exclamation point for emphasis)
A compound sentence combines two independence clauses (i.e., independence clauses can stand on their own as sentences) using a coordinating conjunction: and, but, yet, for, so, of, nor. A compound sentence always uses a comma
Example: Tom is such a great cook, and he always buys the most expensive ingredients.
A complex sentence combines an independent clause and a dependent clause (e.g., a phrase that cannot stand alone as a sentence).
Example: Although I like most fish, I really don’t like tuna.
‘I like most fish’ is an independent clause, but adding ‘Although’ at the beginning makes the phrase dependent on the proceeding independent clause, ‘I really don’t like tuna.’
Hint No matter the kind of sentence you’re writing, make sure it conveys a complete thought and includes a subject and a verb.
Avoiding Run-on Sentences and Comma Splices
As the name suggests, a run-on sentence is a sentence that is much too long. Someone reading a run-on sentence may have trouble understanding the meaning. Run-on sentences often use incorrect grammar, too. The best way to fix a run-on sentence is to break it into shorter, separate sentences.
Example: I don’t like the big box store in my neighborhood that is only open on Mondays and has high prices on just about everything.
Fixed: I don’t like the big box store in my neighborhood. It is only open on Mondays and has high prices on just about everything.
Hint If a sentence feels too long, it probably is.
A comma splice is when you connect two independent clauses with a comma but forget the coordinating conjunction.
Comma Splice: I have a dog, his name is Max.
Fixed: I have a dog, and his name is Max.
Hint Don’t forget the coordinating conjunction!
Subordinating and Modifying Ideas
If you want to write well, you must understand how to subordinate and modify ideas. These sound like advanced skills, but you likely do them every day in your writing.
You can subordinate ideas in many ways, such as by turning simple sentences into complex and compound sentences. With practice, readers will notice that your writing sounds ‘smoother’ than before. Let’s look at how you can subordinate three independent clauses into one sentence.
Original: I like cats. My mom is allergic. We didn’t get a cat.
W/ Subordination: Although I like cats, my mom is allergic, so we didn’t get a cat.
See how the two versions differ? The first reads like a seven-year-old wrote it. The example with subordination sounds a lot smoother, less choppy, and more sophisticated.
Hint When subordinating, make sure you avoid run-on sentences and use appropriate coordinating conjunctions.
You modify ideas with modifiers, words and phrases that provide readers with extra details that add context to your writing. Let’s look at an example with and without modifiers.
Original: I was late for work because my car broke down.
W/ Modifiers: I was late for work at the factory because my old car broke down on the highway.
Doesn’t the example with modifiers provide a much better picture of what happened?
Hint Even if you’re trying to avoid run-on sentences, don’t leave out necessary modifiers that readers need to figure out what’s going on.
Bewareof dangling modifiers. Dangling modifiers exist at the beginning of sentences but leave what they describe unclear.
Original: While living at home, the roof suddenly caved in.
The sentence does not answer the question, ‘Who was living at home?’
W/O a Dangling Modifier: While Mark was living at home, the roof suddenly caved in.
Hint Pay close attention to the beginning of sentences to catch those pesky dangling modifiers. If something seems off/unclear, you’ve likely encountered one.
Maintaining Parallel Structure
Well-written sentences feature parallel structure (i.e., using the same grammar constructions throughout the sentence).
Unparallel: Tomorrow, I am going to the store, buying a loaf of bread, and eat a steak.
See how ‘eat’ doesn’t include the ‘-ing’ as the other two verbs in the sentence?
Parallel: Tomorrow, I am going to the store, buying a loaf of bread, and eating a steak.
Unparallel structure can also appear in ways other than verb tense. Here’s an example involving adverbs.
Unparallel: I talk softly, eat loud, and sleep soundly.
See how ‘loud’ is missing the ‘-ly’ present in the two other adverbs?
Parallel: I talk softly, eat loudly, and sleep soundly.
Hint Even if you feel rushed answering multiple-choice questions on the HiSET Language Arts: Writing test, make sure all those ‘-ing’s’ and ‘-ly’s’ are present.
Choosing the Right Writing Style
You should write with your audience in mind. If you’re shooting off a text to a friend or family member, you can use an informal style. Letters to teachers and bosses require a more formal writing style. Both should use correct grammar. Let’s look at an example where someone can convey the same information formally and informally.
Formal Writing: Good morning. I am sorry to inform you that I will not be coming into the office today. Please ask Mr. Roberts to perform my responsibilities. I will certainly do the same for him at a time when he cannot come into work.
Informal Writing: Hey, I’m sorry, but I can’t come into work today. Ask Bob to do my work for me. I’ll do the same for him when he can’t come in.
One thing that should jump out at you right away is that informal writing closely mirrors natural speech. Here are a few other things that can help you identify informal writing.
The use of contractions
The use of someone’s first, rather than last, name
The use of informal greetings such as ‘hey’.
The use of shorter words
Hint The HiSET Language Arts: Writing test may ask you to make a passage more formal by selecting a word or phrase. You can sometimes do so by focusing on the answer choices that are longer.
Organizing Ideas and Applying Logical Order
In all writing, you need to organize ideas so readers will understand you. Let’s start by looking at the smallest part of writing beyond sentences: paragraphs. No matter the topic, a good paragraph has a main idea. A paragraph should not stray from its main idea, lest it become confusing. Let’s look at an example.
A paragraph with irrelevant details: (1) Buying a new car can be a difficult process. (2) The car industry grew 3% in 2024. (3) You need to research safety reports, projected maintenance costs, and fuel consumption. (4) You must also consider whether you’ll need a car loan.
Every sentence in this paragraph is about cars, but did you catch the sentence that stands out from the rest? That’s right, sentence 2 has nothing to do with buying cars, the main idea presented in sentence 1.
Other HiSET Language Arts: Writing questions ask you to rearrange the sentences into logical order. In this kind of question, every sentence relates to the main idea. You need to decide which organization makes the most sense.
Poor Organization: (1) In 2023, many Central African countries received lower-than-expected rainfall. (2) This situation left governments scrambling, and many have since applied for international assistance. (3) As a result, millions of acres of once-fertile land became barren. (4) Climate change has led to a food crisis in Central Africa.
When reorganizing sentences, use these tips to find the right order:
Identify the main idea. This is likely the correct first sentence.
Look for transition words/phrases. They indicate the sentence goes somewhere in the middle.
Think about the paragraph as a short story. Which order makes the most sense?
If you use these tips, you can find the correct organization.
Correct Organization: (4) Climate change has led to a food crisis in Central Africa. (1) In 2023, many Central African countries received lower-than-expected rainfall. (3) As a result, millions of acres of once-fertile land became barren. (2) This situation left governments scrambling, and many have since applied for international assistance.
The first sentence sets the stage, so to speak. Sentences 2 and 3 provide essential details, and ‘as a result’ in sentence 3 is a clue that it goes after sentence 2. Sentence 4 describes a reaction to these events, indicating that it comes at the end of the paragraph.
Hint Organizing ideas and applying local order requires some practice. Besides taking practice tests, you can develop these skills by paying close attention to what you read.
Making Your Writing Flow
Organizing ideas and applying logical order helps your writing flow. However, there are a few other tricks you can use to improve your flow, making your writing sound more natural.
The first is to use transition words and phrases. Transition words and phrases serve many purposes. They let you:
Give examples: Pets are great. For example, my cat Fluffy has a cute meow.
Compare ideas: Some mushrooms are poisonous. Similarly, some plants are also poisonous.
Contrast ideas: Sugary soda is bad for your health. However, it sure is tasty!
Show steps: Here are the directions to my house. First, turn left on 2nd Avenue. Second, drive five miles.
Show causes: I was late to class because of the big snowstorm.
Show results: Dave broke the law by speeding. As a result, he had to do community service.
Draw conclusions: It’s over 100 degrees outside. Therefore, it is too hot to play in the sun.
Some HiSET Language Arts: Writing questions may ask you to choose or replace a transitional word. To answer these questions correctly, examine what comes before and after the transition. Ask yourself, “Which purpose should the transition serve?” If you can answer that question, you can find the right answer choice.
Hint Practice questions are your best bet for improving your transition word skills.
Using References
How can you tell if something you read is true? Here are a few ways you can feel confident that you are getting only the right information:
Many credible texts contain some sort of bibliography, a list of sources where the author got their information. A bibliography can appear at the end of a text or as a footnote.
Bibliographies are required in most formal writing, such as essays and academic books.
Bibliographies let readers check the sources the author used and confirm what the author is saying is true.
Instead of including a bibliography, some authors cite their sources within a text. News articles often use in-text citations.
“According to Joseph Smith of the Department of Labor, unemployment has improved.”
See how this example cites a person and where they work? This gives readers enough information to investigate Mr. Smith and his claims further.
Lastly, some authors plagiarize others’ work (i.e., stealing idea/opinions). A text lacking a bibliography or references may include plagiarism. Be wary of when an author discusses facts/figures without telling you where they came from.
Grammer Review Quiz
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One of the most sacred traditions in all of history is the election of a pope, referred to as the head of the Catholic Church. When the current pope dies or resigns, an election must occur to elect a new one. This election is referred to as a conclave. (1) This conclave takes place roughly two to three weeks after the previous pope’s death or resignation. It happens at the Vatican in Rome.
Cardinals gathering in the Sistine Chapel, review the rules for the papal conclave, and cast their vote for a new pope. Like most elections, the vote is completely secret although many cardinals will openly voice their support for one candidate and try to sway others to vote for him. Three cardinals are responsible for collecting and counting the ballots. Once a cardinal receives a majority of the votes, they are selected to become the new pope.
Unlike Election Day in America, a papal election can last a long time. Two elections are held per day and Cardinals must not leave the Vatican until a new pope is elected. In the 1200s, it took 34 months before a new pope was chosen. The people immediately know if a pope is chosen or not based on the smoke coming out of the Vatican chimney. After the counting of the ballots, the Cardinals burn the ballots. The election of no pope results in black smoke coming from the chimney. When a new pope is chosen, the color of the smoke changes as a special chemical mixture is put into the burning to turn it white. This white smoke is usually met with jubilation from the crowd in St. Peter’s Square as they know a new pope has been chosen.
Which conjunction can be used to make this one compound sentence?
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Question 2 of 8
2. Question
One of the most sacred traditions in all of history is the election of a pope, referred to as the head of the Catholic Church. When the current pope dies or resigns, an election must occur to elect a new one. This election is referred to as a conclave. This conclave takes place roughly two to three weeks after the previous pope’s death or resignation. It happens at the Vatican in Rome.
(2) Cardinals gathering in the Sistine Chapel, review the rules for the papal conclave, and cast their vote for a new pope. Like most elections, the vote is completely secret although many cardinals will openly voice their support for one candidate and try to sway others to vote for him. Three cardinals are responsible for collecting and counting the ballots. Once a cardinal receives a majority of the votes, they are selected to become the new pope.
Unlike Election Day in America, a papal election can last a long time. Two elections are held per day and Cardinals must not leave the Vatican until a new pope is elected. In the 1200s, it took 34 months before a new pope was chosen. The people immediately know if a pope is chosen or not based on the smoke coming out of the Vatican chimney. After the counting of the ballots, the Cardinals burn the ballots. The election of no pope results in black smoke coming from the chimney. When a new pope is chosen, the color of the smoke changes as a special chemical mixture is put into the burning to turn it white. This white smoke is usually met with jubilation from the crowd in St. Peter’s Square as they know a new pope has been chosen.
How would you change the sentence to make it sound parallel in structure?
Correct
Incorrect
Question 3 of 8
3. Question
One of the most sacred traditions in all of history is the election of a pope, referred to as the head of the Catholic Church. When the current pope dies or resigns, an election must occur to elect a new one. This election is referred to as a conclave. This conclave takes place roughly two to three weeks after the previous pope’s death or resignation. It happens at the Vatican in Rome.
Cardinals gathering in the Sistine Chapel, review the rules for the papal conclave, and cast their vote for a new pope. Like most elections, the vote is completely secret although many cardinals will openly voice their support for one candidate and try to sway others to vote for him. Three cardinals are responsible for collecting and counting the ballots. Once a cardinal receives a majority of the votes, they are selected to become the new pope.
Unlike Election Day in America, a papal election can last a long time. Two elections are held per day and Cardinals must not leave the Vatican until a new pope is elected. (3) In the 1200s, it took 34 months before a new pope was chosen. The people immediately know if a pope is chosen or not based on the smoke coming out of the Vatican chimney. After the counting of the ballots, the Cardinals burn the ballots. The election of no pope results in black smoke coming from the chimney. When a new pope is chosen, the color of the smoke changes as a special chemical mixture is put into the burning to turn it white. This white smoke is usually met with jubilation from the crowd in St. Peter’s Square as they know a new pope has been chosen.
What could you add at the beginning of this sentence to show that you researched this article properly?
Correct
Incorrect
Question 4 of 8
4. Question
One of the most sacred traditions in all of history is the election of a pope, referred to as the head of the Catholic Church. When the current pope dies or resigns, an election must occur to elect a new one. This election is referred to as a conclave. This conclave takes place roughly two to three weeks after the previous pope’s death or resignation. It happens at the Vatican in Rome.
Cardinals gathering in the Sistine Chapel, review the rules for the papal conclave, and cast their vote for a new pope. Like most elections, the vote is completely secret although many cardinals will openly voice their support for one candidate and try to sway others to vote for him. Three cardinals are responsible for collecting and counting the ballots. Once a cardinal receives a majority of the votes, they are selected to become the new pope.
Unlike Election Day in America, a papal election can last a long time. Two elections are held per day and Cardinals must not leave the Vatican until a new pope is elected. In the 1200s, it took 34 months before a new pope was chosen. The people immediately know if a pope is chosen or not based on the smoke coming out of the Vatican chimney. After the counting of the ballots, the Cardinals burn the ballots. The election of no pope results in black smoke coming from the chimney. (4) When a new pope is chosen, the color of the smoke changes as a special chemical mixture is put into the burning to turn it white. This white smoke is usually met with jubilation from the crowd in St. Peter’s Square as they know a new pope has been chosen.
What transition word would best fit at the start of this sentence?
Correct
Incorrect
Question 5 of 8
5. Question
Questions 5–8 are based on the following passage.
(5a) When people think of coffee, the first thing that comes to mind is giving them a boost in the morning when they are tired.(5b) That is because there is a lot of caffeine in coffee which is why it gives people the energy it does.(5c) But because of the caffeine, many people avoid coffee because they feel it has too many negative side effects that are long-term.(5d) Studies, however, have repeatedly shown that there are more benefits to drinking coffee than there are our drawbacks, and if consumed properly, can lead to a healthy life.
Coffee is full of substances that guard you against illnesses such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s Disease, and heart disease and allow you to live longer. It’s also been shown to prevent colon cancer, especially in women. People that drink coffee are more alert during the day allowing them to think better and solve critical problems at work. For those in school, it can help students be more alert in class and do well on tests.
Of course, knowing when to drink coffee is important, for example, you don’t want to drink it before and during a hard workout at the gym because it can dehydrate you. Drinking plenty of water can counter that dehydration effect. If you have any questions or concerns, it’s important to seek a doctor’s advice prior to drinking a substantial amount of coffee.
Which sentence sets up the main idea?
Correct
Incorrect
Question 6 of 8
6. Question
When people think of coffee, the first thing that comes to mind is giving them a boost in the morning when they are tired. That is because there is a lot of caffeine in coffee which is why it gives people the energy it does. But because of the caffeine, many people avoid coffee because they feel it has too many negative side effects that are long-term. Studies, however, have repeatedly shown that there are more benefits to drinking coffee than there are our drawbacks, and if consumed properly, can lead to a healthy life.
(6) Coffee is full of substances that guard you against illnesses such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s Disease, and heart disease and allow you to live longer It’s also been shown to prevent colon cancer, especially in women. People that drink coffee are more alert during the day allowing them to think better and solve critical problems at work. For those in school, it can help students be more alert in class and do well on tests.
Of course, knowing when to drink coffee is important, for example, you don’t want to drink it before and during a hard workout at the gym because it can dehydrate you. Drinking plenty of water can counter that dehydration effect. If you have any questions or concerns, it’s important to seek a doctor’s advice prior to drinking a substantial amount of coffee.
What should be included in this sentence?
Correct
Incorrect
Question 7 of 8
7. Question
When people think of coffee, the first thing that comes to mind is giving them a boost in the morning when they are tired. That is because there is a lot of caffeine in coffee which is why it gives people the energy it does. But because of the caffeine, many people avoid coffee because they feel it has too many negative side effects that are long-term. Studies, however, have repeatedly shown that there are more benefits to drinking coffee than there are our drawbacks, and if consumed properly, can lead to a healthy life.
Coffee is full of substances that guard you against illnesses such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s Disease, and heart disease and allow you to live longer. It’s also been shown to prevent colon cancer, especially in women. (7) People that drink coffee are more alert during the day allowing them to think better and solve critical problems at work. For those in school, it can help students be more alert in class and do well on tests.
Of course, knowing when to drink coffee is important, for example, you don’t want to drink it before and during a hard workout at the gym because it can dehydrate you. Drinking plenty of water can counter that dehydration effect. If you have any questions or concerns, it’s important to seek a doctor’s advice prior to drinking a substantial amount of coffee.
Which of the following is an example of an independent clause in these sentences?
Correct
Incorrect
Question 8 of 8
8. Question
When people think of coffee, the first thing that comes to mind is giving them a boost in the morning when they are tired. That is because there is a lot of caffeine in coffee which is why it gives people the energy it does. But because of the caffeine, many people avoid coffee because they feel it has too many negative side effects that are long-term. Studies, however, have repeatedly shown that there are more benefits to drinking coffee than there are our drawbacks, and if consumed properly, can lead to a healthy life.
Coffee is full of substances that guard you against illnesses such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s Disease, and heart disease and allow you to live longer. It’s also been shown to prevent colon cancer, especially in women. People that drink coffee are more alert during the day allowing them to think better and solve critical problems at work. For those in school, it can help students be more alert in class and do well on tests.
(8) Of course, knowing when to drink coffee is important, for example, you don’t want to drink it before and during a hard workout at the gym because it can dehydrate you. Drinking plenty of water can counter that dehydration effect. If you have any questions or concerns, it’s important to seek a doctor’s advice prior to drinking a substantial amount of coffee.
Where is there a grammatical error in this sentence?
