Consecutive Sentences error symbolize the use of similar or the same expressions or words. For example “I went back to my house. Then I had my food. Then I went to bed”.
We view the usage of ‘Then’ twice here as a repetition. This over-usage of work “Then” makes the article boring and hence it is necessary to fix the consecutive sentences error from the article.
Why Shouldn't You Cause Consecutive Sentences?
Repetitions are undesirable occurrences. They decrease the overall quality of your content and drive away users. The failure to minimize the repetitions will lead to your website’s utility suffering in the long run.
Repetitions in your paragraphs break the rhythm of the readers. The readers might end up losing interest and not fully understand your message. This can lead to an increased bounce rate and decrease revisits and loyal visitors.
How to Avoid Consective Sentences Error:
What should you do?
In simple terms, stop using repetitions. In a more complex sense, be on the lookout for repetitions and proofread your document for the same.
Avoid Consecutive Sentences:
It is necessary that we keep a strict lookout for repetitions. But it is more so for some words than others:
1. Transition words (and, but, so, etc.)
2. Relative Pronouns (this, that, these, those)
3. Personal Pronouns (I, you, it, etc.)
4. Articles (the, a, an)
These words are most commonly repeated. Not paying proper attention while writing content leads to such occurrences. So, keep a strict check for them.
Removing Consecutive Sentences:
We can easily change the repetitions/consecutive sentences that occur in the content in most cases by rewording the sentences.
In most problematic cases, using close synonyms of the repeated words helps. If nothing works, breaking sentences into smaller ones or joining sentences will surely work. Instead, using the actual names of the people helps in the removal of pronouns. The actual names can replace “I”, “you”, “he” and “she” whenever it seems that the pronoun is getting overused or confusing.
The common transition words like “but”, “and”, “also” can replace more formal synonyms like “however”, “furthermore”, “moreover” respectively.
For example, the sentences discussed above, “I went back to my house. Then I had my food. Then I went to bed”, can be molded into a better passage with just a few changes: “When I went back to my house, I had my food. After the meal, I went to bed.” This is just one of many ways to rewrite the sentence.
Exception to the Rule: Stylistic Devices
For example, we can mold a better passage with just a few changes from the sentences discussed above, “I went back to my house. Then I had my food. Then I went to bed.”
The changes are, “When I went back to my house, I had my food. After the meal, I went to bed.” This is just one of many ways to rewrite the sentence.
Concluding Consecutive Sentences:
Repetitions in consecutive sentences can put off readers and decrease your traffic. We should take proper care to avoid such occurrences. However, when you do find such problems, make sure that the end results do not look shabby and readability is good.
Next Lecture: How subheading can improve readability