6) Grammar cohesion/ parallelism

Although we try to avoid repeating words while composing a text, we shouldn’t forget that another way of making a text cohesive is the use of similar grammar in different sentences, for example, the same tense or aspect, similar word order or repeating a particular grammatical form.

E.g.: She is probably going to fail the exam. And she is probably going to blame her teacher.

What is to guarantee that my orders are not changed? What is to guarantee that the attack is not annulled? What is to guarantee the attack is not postponed?

To steal, yes. To eat well, yes. To murder, yes. To fight. No.

One should avoid sudden changes in grammar as this often looks clumsy and it can make a written text difficult to understand.

E.g.: I can’t wait to lie on the sand. Swimming in the sea is great. To sunbathe is something I would love to do as well.

Correct:

I can’t wait to be lying on the sand, sunbathing and swimming in the sea.

If we want to create a dramatic effect or make a strong contrast, we can repeat an unusual grammatical pattern. But we normally use this device in narrative and fiction because in less literary contexts it can seem inappropriate.

E.g.: Rarely had I seen such a ramshackle boat. And never had I actually been expected to get on board one.

IV. Appropriate language

A key feature of language use which is appropriate to its context is the right choice of grammatical patterns and vocabulary. Certain forms and patterns are more suitable for formal situations.

• passives:

Candidates will be interviewed in alphabetical order.

Answers must be written in ink.

• subjunctives:

Rules require that officers not enter the crime scene without protective clothing.

Members of the Committee suggested England be excluded from future international tournaments.

• participle phrases:

Horns locked, the two stags struggle for mastery.

He crouched in the alleyway, his eyes straining in the darkness.

• infinitive phrases:

The tax bill will be the first item to be debated in the next parliament.

Not to have acted sooner was his greatest regret.

• non-defining relative clauses:

ITV’s News at Ten, which occupied the mid-evening slot for many years, was a very popular programme.

There are patterns which are appropriate for more informal situations, e.g.

• passives with get:

His hand got trapped in the car door.

• sentences ending with prepositions:

These are the principles our party stands for.

• using verbs as nouns:

Can’t you open it? Shall I give it a try?

• It-cleft sentences with when and where:

What they are is unscrupulous.

Here is another set of examples which differ not only in the choice of grammatical patterns but also in the choice of vocabulary:

I’m afraid I can’t come because I’m busy tonight. (neutral)

I regret that I am unable to attend due to a prior engagement. (formal)

Sorry I can’t make it but I’m a bit tied up tonight. (informal)

In written English we usually do not mix formal and informal language unless we want to create a comic or ironical effect.

E.g.: The Minister was unable to attend the reception as he was a bit tied up.

Correct: The Minister was unable to attend the reception due to a prior engagement.

Words differ in their stylistic reference and frequency in speech. Most English words are neutral and can be used in any situation. They make up the so called general vocabulary which comprises the very common words that we find in all types of written and spoken English. Subject-specific vocabulary consists of words which are not quite common in everyday speech but normally occur in a certain academic area, such as physics or economics (current cost accounting, sustainable management, business cycles). Some words have a general meaning in everyday life and a specific meaning in a particular subject area. For example, market, margin, demand are used in the economic area with specific meanings. Outside the most frequent words of English and academic vocabulary there are words which do not occur very often in either written or spoken English. These words are called low-frequency vocabulary (ameliorate, fountainhead, harrowing). The usefulness of such words depends on your needs.

Here are some tips which may help you in choosing the appropriate words to serve your purpose.