In the normally constructed sentence, the various parts are arranged in the following order: subject, verb, object, verb-modifier. For example:

The inspectors examined the books minutely.

Here no part is given any special prominence. The verb-modifier, to be sure, from the fact that it occupies the most prominent position in the sentence, is slightly more emphatic than any other part; but it has no special emphasis. Special emphasis can come only from an unusual arrangement of the parts. Note, in the following sentences, how the emphasis on a given part varies according to the position that part occupies:

We found inefficiency and corruption everywhere. (Normal arrangement; verb-modifier slightly emphasized.)

Everywhere we found inefficiency and corruption. (Inverted order; object slightly, verb-modifier .trongly emphasized.)

Inefficiency and corruption we found everywhere. (Inverted order; verb-modifier slightly, object strongly emphasized.)

Great is Diana of the Ephesians. (Inverted order; predicate adjective emphasized.)

Flashed all their sabres bare. (Inverted order; verb strongly emphasized.)

On whatever side we contemplate Homer, what principally strikes us is his wonderful invention. (Inverted order; subject emphasized.)

As we see here, any departure from the order in which the parts of a sentence are naturally arranged gives, provided the demands of coherence are satisfied, some emphasis to the part removed from its natural position. Thus, a verb-modifier placed at the end of the sentence is only slightly emphasized; placed at the beginning, it is made strongly emphatic. Similarly, a subject placed at the beginning receives little or no emphasis; placed at the end, it acquires special emphasis. Hence the general rule to secure emphasis in the sentence is, Invert the natural order of the parts, and put the part to be emphasized in the emphatic position furthest removed from the position it would naturally occupy.

45. Classification of sentences based on the principle of suspense. A special form of emphasis is that usually known as suspense, in which an essential part of the sentence, the key-word, as it were, — is withheld until the close. Sentences which conform to this principle are termed periodic. In contradistinction, sentences in which something is added after the sentence becomes grammatically complete are called loose. Still another kind is sometimes distinguished, namely, the balanced sentence, in which two contrasted clauses - usually in themselves periodic are sharply set off against each other.

46. The periodic sentence. The test for the periodic sentence is the impossibility of stopping at any point within it, short of the end, without at the same time rendering the sentence incomplete. All

merely qualifying or explanatory words, phrases, or clauses are brought in before the things they qualify or explain, and the sentence ends with some word essential to its grammatical completeness. Without that word, the sentence would be unintelligible, and would fall to pieces like an arch without a keystone. Examples:

The world is neither eternal nor the work of chance. On whatever side we contemplate Homer, what principally strikes us is his invention.

On the other hand, your power of purifying the air, by dealing properly and swiftly with all substances in corruption, by absolutely forbidding noxious manufactures, and by planting in all soils the trees which cleanse and invigorate earth and atmosphere, is literally infinite.

The general effect of the periodic sentence, when judiciously used, is to give to style an air of firmness, vigor, and finish. As Professor Minto remarks,1 however, "The effect that a reader is conscious of receiving varies greatly with the nature of the subjectmatter. When the subject is easy and familiar, the reader, finding the sentence or clause come to an end as soon as his expectations are satisfied, receives an agreeable impression of neatness and finish. When the subject-matter is unfamiliar, or when the suspense is unduly prolonged, the periodic structure is intolerably tedious, or intolerably exasperating, according to the temper of the reader." The periodic sentence, therefore, has to be used with caution. Used in

1 See Manual of English Prose Literature, pp. 5, 6.

excess, it offends against ease. In no case, perhaps, ought it to predominate over the loose sentence.

47. The loose sentence. A sentence is technically called loose if, as has been said, it does not observe the principle of suspense, — that is, if it gives additional qualifying or explanatory matter after the sentence becomes grammatically complete. The test of a loose sentence is that it is always possible to stop at one or more points before the end is reached. Examples:

In thus making sweetness and light to be characters of perfection, culture is of like spirit with poetry, follows one law with poetry.

These colors are not universal, but are very general, and are seldom reversed.

The poor fellow was never so friendless but he could befriend some one, never so pinched and wretched but he could give of his crust and speak his word of compassion.

Not long ago a pupil of one of the best private schools in New York maintained that American literature is just as important as English literature, producing in proof two companion manuals, of the same size externally, but, rather unfortunately for the theory, on quite different scales internally.

The effect of the loose sentence, — and the term "loose," as used here, is, it must be remembered, in no sense a term of disparagement, is to give freedom, ease, and naturalness to style. It is the typical sentence of conversation, of letter-writing, and of informal discourses in general. Its greatest disadvantage is the ease with which it can degenerate and become rambling or incoherent. Well con

structed, it is as good, - good, that is, for its own purposes, as the periodic sentence; badly constructed, it may be very bad indeed.

48. The balanced sentence. Logically speaking, the classification of sentences into periodic and loose is a complete one: all sentences must be either periodic or loose. Still, it is sometimes convenient to distinguish as a third class the balanced sentence, the sentence in which coördinate clauses are contrasted or set off against each other.

Examples:

Man's face he did not fear; God he always feared.

The Greek quarrel with the body and its desires is that they hinder right thinking; the Hebrew quarrel with them is that they hinder right acting.

There have been many great writers, but perhaps no writer was ever uniformly more agreeable.

Arctic animals are white, desert animals are sand-colored; dwellers among leaves and grass are green; nocturnal animals are dusky.

Like the periodic, the balanced sentence is used mainly in the service of emphasis. Its strong point consists in its ability to present a thought with great sharpness of outline: the balanced sentence is usually very clear and very easily remembered. Its effectiveness lies, however, in its being used sparingly, for it is the most artificial of all the sentence forms.

49. Variety in sentence structure. - In sentence building, the writer's first care, of course, is to see that his sentences are clear and coherent: if he fails