Make Your English Writing More Engaging

By Itunu Taiwo | BuildWithWords Academy

Read this paragraph:

“I woke up early. I brushed my teeth. I took my bath. I ate breakfast. I went to school. I attended my classes. I came home. I did my homework. I went to bed.”

Technically, there’s nothing wrong with this paragraph. Every sentence is grammatically correct. But doesn’t it feel… boring? Robotic? Like you’re reading a shopping list instead of a story?

Now read this version:

“I woke up early, brushed my teeth, and took a quick bath before breakfast. After eating, I headed to school, where I attended my classes until the afternoon. When I got home, I finished my homework and collapsed into bed, exhausted.”

It’s still the same information, but this version flows better, sounds more natural, and is far more engaging to read.

The difference? Sentence variety.

Today, I’m going to show you how to transform your writing. You can make it dynamic and engaging simply by varying your sentence structure. This change will make your writing less boring and repetitive.

Why Sentence Variety Matters

When all your sentences follow the same pattern (Subject + Verb + Object), your writing becomes:

• Monotonous – Readers get bored quickly
• Choppy – Ideas don’t flow smoothly
• Childish – Sounds like primary school writing

But when you vary your sentences, your writing becomes:

• Engaging – Readers stay interested
• Smooth – Ideas connect naturally
• Sophisticated – Sounds mature and confident

Think of sentence variety like music. If every note is the same, it becomes bland. But when you mix short notes, long notes, pauses, and rhythm, you create something beautiful.

Your writing should be the same way.

The 4 Types of Sentences (By Structure)

1. Simple Sentences

Structure: One independent clause (one complete thought)

Examples:

• “I love reading.”
• “She passed her exams.”
• “The market was crowded.”

When to use: To make a clear, direct point or to create emphasis.

2. Compound Sentences

Structure: Two independent clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction (and, but, or, so, yet, for, nor) or a semicolon.

Examples:

• “I love reading, and I also enjoy writing.”
• “She studied hard, but she still failed the test.”
• “The market was crowded; we decided to leave early.”

When to use: To connect two related ideas of equal importance.

3. Complex Sentences

Structure: One independent clause + one or more dependent clauses (clauses that can’t stand alone)

Examples:

• “Although I was tired, I finished my homework.” (dependent clause + independent clause)
• “I love reading because it expands my knowledge.” (independent clause + dependent clause)
• “When the rain started, we ran inside.” (dependent clause + independent clause)

When to use: To show relationships between ideas (cause/effect, time, condition, contrast).

4. Compound-Complex Sentences

Structure: Two or more independent clauses + one or more dependent clauses

Example:

• “Although I was tired, I finished my homework, and I still had time to read a book.”

When to use: To express complex, multi-layered ideas (but don’t overuse—these can get confusing).

How to Add Variety to Your Sentences

Technique 1: Vary Sentence Length

Mix short sentences with longer ones to create rhythm.

❌ Monotonous (All similar length): “I went to the store. I bought some bread. I also bought some milk. Then I went home. I put the groceries away.”

✅ Varied (Mix of short and long): “I went to the store and bought bread and milk. Then I went home. Tired but satisfied, I put the groceries away.”

Pro Tip: Short sentences create impact. Long sentences create flow. Use both strategically.

Technique 2: Start Sentences Differently

Don’t always start with the subject.

❌ Repetitive (Every sentence starts with “I” or “The”): “I woke up at 6am. I prepared for school. I left the house at 7 am. I arrived at school at 8 am.”

✅ Varied Openings:

• With a time phrase: “At 6am, I woke up and prepared for school.”
• With a transition: “After preparing, I left the house at 7am.”
• With a dependent clause: “Because I left early, I arrived at school by 8am.”
• With an adverb: “Surprisingly, I arrived before the bell rang.”

Other sentence starters to try:

• Prepositional phrases: “In the morning,” “After the meeting,” “During the break”
• -ing words: “Running late, I skipped breakfast.”
• Transitions: “However,” “Meanwhile,” “As a result,” “On the other hand”

Technique 3: Combine Short, Choppy Sentences

❌ Choppy: “The teacher entered the class. She was carrying books. She placed them on the desk. She began the lesson.”

✅ Combined: “The teacher entered the class, carrying books, which she placed on the desk before beginning the lesson.”

How to combine:

1. Use conjunctions (and, but, so, because)
2. Use commas and participial phrases (-ing, -ed words)
3. Use relative pronouns (who, which, that)

Technique 4: Use Different Sentence Types (By Purpose)

Don’t just make statements. Mix in questions, commands, and exclamations.

Example Paragraph with Variety:

“Have you ever wondered why some writers captivate you from the first sentence? It’s not magic. It’s technique. Pay attention to how they vary their sentence structure. Notice the rhythm. Feel the flow. That’s what you’re aiming for in your own writing!”

Breakdown:

• Question: “Have you ever wondered…?”
• Statement: “It’s not magic. It’s technique.”
• Command: “Pay attention… Notice… Feel…”
• Exclamation: “That’s what you’re aiming for!”

Before and After Examples

Example 1: Academic Writing

❌ Before (No Variety): “Education is important. It helps people get jobs. It improves their lives. It benefits society. Everyone should have access to education.”

✅ After (With Variety): “Education is crucial for individual and societal development. By providing people with skills and knowledge, it improves their employment prospects and quality of life. Therefore, access to education should be universal.”

Example 2: Professional Email

❌ Before (Repetitive): “I am writing to apply for the position. I have experience in marketing. I have worked for three years. I am interested in your company.”

✅ After (Varied): “I am writing to apply for the marketing position. With three years of experience in digital marketing, I am confident I can contribute to your team’s success. Your company’s innovative approach particularly interests me.”

Example 3: Creative Writing

❌ Before (Boring): “She walked into the room. She saw him. He was sitting by the window. He looked sad. She wanted to help.”

✅ After (Engaging): “She walked into the room and saw him sitting by the window, his shoulders slumped. He looked sad. Could she help? She wasn’t sure, but she had to try.”

Common Sentence Variety Mistakes to Avoid

Mistake 1: Only Using Long, Complex Sentences

❌ “Although education is important for individual development and societal progress, and while many people recognize its value, access remains limited for marginalized communities, particularly in rural areas, where resources are scarce and infrastructure is underdeveloped, which creates significant barriers to learning.”

Problem: This is too long and readers will easily get lost.

✅ Better: “Education is important for individual and societal development. However, access remains limited in marginalized communities, especially rural areas where resources and infrastructure are scarce.”

Mistake 2: Starting Too Many Sentences with “However,” “Therefore,” or “Moreover”

These transitions are useful, but overusing them makes your writing stiff.

❌ “However, education is important. Therefore, we must invest in schools. Moreover, teachers need better training.”

✅ Better: “Education is important, so we must invest in schools and provide better training for teachers.”

Mistake 3: Forgetting Short Sentences for Impact

Sometimes, a short sentence is exactly what you need.

Example: “She studied for weeks. She reviewed every topic. She practiced past questions. She prayed. Test day arrived.”

That final short sentence—”Test day arrived”—creates dramatic impact. Don’t be afraid to use short sentences strategically!

Practice Exercise: Rewrite for Variety

Original (Monotonous): “I went to the market. I bought vegetables. I also bought fish. Then I went home. I cooked dinner. My family ate together. We enjoyed the meal.”

Your Turn: Rewrite this paragraph using:

• At least one compound sentence
• At least one complex sentence
• Varied sentence openings
• A mix of short and long sentences

Possible Rewrite: “I went to the market and bought vegetables and fish. After getting home, I cooked dinner, which my family enjoyed together. It was a simple but satisfying meal.”

The Rhythm Test: Read Your Writing Aloud

Here’s the best way to check if your sentences have variety:

Read your writing out loud.

If it sounds choppy, robotic, or repetitive, you need more variety.
If it flows naturally and keeps your attention, you’ve nailed it.

Try it now: Read one of your recent essays or emails out loud. How does it sound?

Final Thoughts

Sentence variety isn’t about showing off or sounding “sophisticated.” It’s about making your writing easier and more enjoyable to read.

When you vary your sentences:

• Your ideas connect more smoothly
• Your writing sounds more mature
• Your readers stay engaged

So the next time you write, whether it’s an essay, an email, or a story, take a moment to check: Are all my sentences the same? If yes, mix it up. Your readers (and your grades!) will thank you.

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About the Author: Itunu Taiwo is a bestselling Nigerian author, certified TEFL instructor, and founder of BuildWithWords Academy. She helps African young adults write clearly, confidently, and engagingly.