Dear Comrade:
In this lesson we are completing the study of conjunctions. We have
studied the conjunction last among the parts of speech and in the order
of the development of language, the conjunction naturally comes last.
The need of connective words does not come in any language until the
language is quite well developed. You will notice that the connective
words, such as prepositions and conjunctions are the last words the
child begins to use. The child first begins to use the names of the
things with which it comes in contact, then it learns the words that
express what these things do. But it is not until the child begins to
reason that it begins to use connective words. These become necessary
when we have reached a stage of development where we can consider the
relationship existing between things.
The use of conjunctions, however, can be greatly overdone. The long and
involved sentences are more difficult to understand. If you will note
the authors which you enjoy the most, it will probably be those who use
short and crisp sentences. We have some authors who by the use of
conjunctions can string one sentence out over several pages. You wonder
how they manage to exist so long without stopping for breath. It is very
easy for us to fall into this error when we are thinking rapidly and our
thoughts all seem to be closely connected. But no mind can grasp many
ideas at one time. Break your sentences up and express your ideas
concisely and clearly. Use conjunctions rather sparingly, especially
these subordinate conjunctions. Do not have too many subordinate clauses
in one sentence.
Notice in your reading for this week those who use the short, crisp
sentences and those who use the longer and more involved sentences.
Notice which are understood more readily and which are more enjoyable to
read. Take some of the paragraphs from those who write long and involved
sentences and break them up into short sentences and see if these
shorter sentences do not make the meaning simpler and clearer. This will
be excellent practice also in gaining the power of expression.
Especially in the class struggle do we need those who can write clearly
and simply of the great problems of the day. As the work of the world is
conducted today, the workers have too little time for reading. They are
apt, after a hard day's work, to be too tired to follow an author
through long, winding, involved passages.
In the spoken word, this is also true. You will find your hearers much
more in sympathy with you if you will use short sentences. Break your
thought up so they can readily grasp your meaning and follow you to your
conclusion.
Conjunctions are very important to save us from tiresome repetitions and
short, jerky sentences, but we must avoid using them too frequently.
Yours for Education,