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loose sentence

American  

noun

  1. a sentence that does not end with the completion of its main clause, but continues with one or more subordinate clauses or other modifiers.


Etymology

Origin of loose sentence

First recorded in 1890–95

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

With their loose sentence structure and the melodic give and take allowing a team approach to conversation I knew they were Guyanese.

From "The Marrow Thieves" by Cherie Dimaline

A loose sentence is one in which the meaning is complete at one or more points before the end.

From Elementary Guide to Literary Criticism by Painter, F. V. N. (Franklin Verzelius Newton)

It gives to prose much of the dignity of the period, together with the familiarity of the loose sentence.

From English: Composition and Literature by Webster, W. F. (William Franklin)

The following is a loose sentence: “I stood on the bridge at midnight, as the clocks were striking the hour.”

From The Art Of Writing & Speaking The English Language Word-Study and Composition & Rhetoric by Cody, Sherwin

Further praise E.K. grants the author because he avoids loose sentence structure and affects the oratorical period.

From Rhetoric and Poetry in the Renaissance A Study of Rhetorical Terms in English Renaissance Literary Criticism by Clark, Donald Lemen

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