Sentences that are grammatically correct but stylistically inappropriate often appear in student writing. These sentences, if used frequently, could have a serious impact on the overall quality of the written work. Below are some examples of such sentences. Suggestions are also given on how to improve these sentence.

Starting a sentence with a prepositional phrase. It is usually more effective to start a sentence with its subject.

Reason

RATHER THAN:	For improvement, hybrid optimisation methods are combined with two or more methodologies…
BETTER:	Hybrid optimisation methods are combined with two or more methodologies to improve…

Time

RATHER THAN:	Over the last two decades, almost every inhabitant of the industrialised world has access to a degree of constant electricity.
BETTER:	Almost every inhabitant of the industrialised world has access to a degree of constant electricity over the last two decades.

Place

RATHER THAN:	In China, the number of people without electricity has been greatly reduced due to the rapid economic development.
BETTER:	The number of people without electricity has been greatly reduced due to the rapid economic development in China.

Placing adverbs at the start of the sentence. It is better to place them before the verb.

RATHER THAN:	Generally, RAPS systems are defined as electrical power supply systems
BETTER:	RAPS systems are generally defined as electrical power supply systems
RATHER THAN:	Recently, a new method to extract the five parameters has been developed by Ma et al. [92] and Bai et al. [93].
BETTER:	A new method to extract the five parameters has recently been developed by Ma et al. [92] and Bai et al. [93].

Starting sentences with the following linking words: “but”, “also”, “and”. It is better to use: “however”, “in addition”, and “apart from A, B is also”.

RATHER THAN:	But topic sequences hold important information about a specific genre or domain, which can be crucial in a coherence model.
BETTER:	However, topic sequences hold important information about a specific genre or domain, which can be crucial in a coherence model. or Topic sequences, however, reveal important information about a specific genre or domain, which can be crucial in a coherence model.

Starting a list with different word forms. Effective writers often use the same word form at the start of each point on the list.

RATHER THAN:

Grid extension to such communities is often impractical, technically difficult and uneconomical [3-8]: Owing to their physical separation in terms of distance; The high cost of constructing long distribution lines and maintaining largescale electrification networks; Difficulties in maintenance and hence poor quality and unreliability, even if the power grids have been established; Upgrading and grid extension can often be beyond the financial capacity of such remote areas.

BETTER:

Grid extension to such communities is often impractical, technically difficult and uneconomical [3-8] owing to: The physical separation in terms of distance; The high cost of constructing long distribution lines and maintaining largescale electrification networks ; The difficulties in maintenance and hence poor quality and unreliability, even if the power grids have been established; and The financial problems faced by upgrading and extending grids in such remote areas.

Note: The word “and” is needed at the end of the second last item on the list.