Write for Business - Blog

The subject is a word, phrase, or clause that tells who or what the sentence is about. It can be a noun, a pronoun, an infinitive, an infinitive phrase, a gerund, a gerund phrase, or a noun clause.

Technology has changed the way business is done. (noun)

I can get that for you wholesale. (pronoun)

To cut costs has been her primary goal. (infinitive phrase)

Finding that document will be difficult. (gerund phrase)

When your samples arrive is when you should begin your calls. (noun clause)

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Either the subject or the predicate or both may be "absent" from a sentence; however, both must be clearly understood.

"What seems to be wrong?"
(What is the subject; seems to be wrong is the predicate.)

"Everything."
(Everything is the subject; the predicate is wrong is understood.)

"Be more specific."
(The subject you is understood; be more specific is the predicate.)

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A sentence is one or more words that express a complete thought.

"Chop your wood, and it will warm you twice."
- Henry Ford, Sr.

A sentence must have a subject and a predicate. The subject tells who or what the sentence is about. The predicate, which contains the verb, tells or asks something about the subject.

"The Edsel is here to stay."
- Henry Ford II

Note: In the sentence above, Edsel is the subject - the sentence talks about the Edsel. Is here to stay is the predicate - it says something about the subject.

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Unparallel construction occurs when the kind of words or phrases being used shifts or changes in the middle of a sentence.

All products must be tested, receive approval, and have labeling before shipment.
(The sentence shifts verb forms from be tested to receive approval to have labeling.)

All products must be tested, approved, and labeled before shipment.
(All three verbs end with ed - they are consistent or parallel.)

Shift in voice is mixing active with passive voice.

As we searched the warehouse for damage, a broken window was discovered.
(Searched is in the active voice, while was discovered is in the passive voice.)

As we searched the warehouse for damage, we discovered a broken window.
(Both verbs are in the active voice.)

(From Write for Business, 2nd edition, page 326, and Proofreader's Guide PDF, page 76)