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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.

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

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

The loose sentence is easy, informal, and familiar; the periodic is stiff, artificial, and aristocratic.

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

Tis love indeed to thee, but to my heart Every loose sentence is a killing dart.

From A Collection of Old English Plays, Volume 4 by Bullen, A. H. (Arthur Henry)

A loose sentence may be broken at some point before the end, and up to that point be grammatically a complete sentence.

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

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