sentence-structure

As writers, we deal constantly with the intricacies of the craft. Dangling participles, purple prose, subjunctive verbs and syntax.

But sometimes it can be something as simple as sentence structure that is our Achilles heal. You have to be ever vigilant when you write. One or two misplaced words and your benign statement becomes … well, a whole ‘nother meaning presents itself.

As exampled here:

 A boss had to fire somebody, and he narrowed it down to one of two people, Debra or Jack. It was a difficult decision because they were both excellent workers.

He decided he would fire the first one who used the water cooler the next morning.

Debra came to work the next morning with a horrible hangover from partying most of the night before.

She went to the cooler to take an aspirin. The boss approached her and said: “Debra, I’ve never needed to do this before but I have to lay you or Jack off.”

“Could you jack off?” she says. “I feel like shit today.”

So be careful, how you piece together your words.

(Anyone have other examples to share?)