breaking sentence

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "breaking sentence" is not commonly used in written English and may cause confusion.
It could be used in contexts discussing grammar or writing, particularly when referring to a sentence that is incomplete or improperly structured. Example: "The author struggled with a breaking sentence that left readers confused about the intended meaning."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

First, don't put all your attributions at the end – try breaking sentences with them: "By the time I left the pub I could barely see them," said Richard.

The Guardian - Books

Another extension to be taken in the near future is the automatic processing of complete documents, by automatically breaking sentences into fragments, and using our classifiers to annotate each fragment.

Bioinformatics

The Queen didn't break sentence as a couple of flunkeys scooped up the boy and carted him out.

The Guardian

That's because teachers need a simple way to teach them how to break sentences, so they tell them that sentences beginning with "and" and other conjunctions are ungrammatical.

The Guardian - Books

He breaks sentences into unhappy fragments; he can't always control his verb tenses; he's given to providing lists of the famous people in Southern's life that read like press releases.

The New York Times - Books

The core NLP module identifies sentence boundaries (sentence detector), breaks sentences into tokens (tokenizer), assigns part of speech tags (POS-tagger), and identifies noun phrases (chunker).

BioMed Research International

Sometimes a simple period works wonders, breaking a sentence in two and giving the reader a chance to pause.

The New York Times

It was dreadful to approach her now — her hair just wisps, her voice nearly gone, her cough breaking every sentence.

The New Yorker

For example, if you regularly find yourself saying, "I'm not good enough", try breaking that sentence down.

The Guardian

Just after nine, Campilongo backed away from the woman he was talking with, skirted two empty tables, and stepped up onto the stage and past an upright piano without breaking his sentence.

The New Yorker

Only by breaking the sentence prematurely can one construct "God, Torah, Israel - and all are one".

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When referring to dividing a sentence, consider using more precise verbs like "splitting", "segmenting", or "restructuring" to clearly convey your intended meaning. This enhances clarity and reduces potential ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "breaking sentence" when you mean to convey correcting a grammatical error; instead, try "revising the sentence" or "correcting the sentence". "Breaking sentence" is more about physically or logically dividing it, not fixing it.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "breaking sentence" typically acts as a verb phrase followed by a noun, describing the action of dividing or interrupting a sentence. However, as Ludwig AI indicates, the phrase is not standard English and is better replaced with more specific alternatives for clarity.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

34%

Science

33%

Wiki

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "breaking sentence" describes the action of dividing or interrupting a sentence, but Ludwig AI identifies it as non-standard English. While it appears across various contexts like News & Media, Science, and Wiki sources, its ambiguity can lead to misinterpretations. For clarity, consider using more precise alternatives such as "splitting sentence", "segmenting sentence", or "restructuring sentence", depending on the intended meaning. Proper context and clearer vocabulary enhance communication, especially in formal or academic settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

fragmenting sentence

Focuses on the action of dividing the sentence into smaller parts.

interrupting sentence

Emphasizes the disruption or pause within a sentence.

disrupting sentence

Highlights the disturbance or alteration of the sentence's natural flow.

restructuring sentence

Focuses on altering the sentence's structure for better clarity or impact.

splitting sentence

Indicates a division of the sentence into multiple parts.

parsing sentence

Describes the process of grammatically analyzing a sentence.

deconstructing sentence

Suggests a thorough analysis and breakdown of the sentence's components.

punctuating sentence

Focuses on adding punctuation to divide the sentence.

segmenting sentence

Emphasizes the division of the sentence into distinct segments.

analyzing sentence

Highlights the process of detailed examination of the sentence.

FAQs

What does "breaking sentence" mean in the context of grammar?

While not a standard grammatical term, "breaking sentence" can refer to dividing a sentence into smaller parts, either grammatically (through punctuation) or structurally. For clearer communication, consider alternatives like "splitting sentence" or "segmenting sentence".

How can I "break" a long sentence to improve readability?

To enhance readability, "restructuring sentence" is a key strategy. You can divide it into shorter, simpler sentences using appropriate punctuation or conjunctions. Aim for clarity and flow in each segment.

Is "breaking sentence" the same as creating a sentence fragment?

Not exactly. "Breaking sentence" implies dividing an existing sentence, while a sentence fragment is an incomplete sentence that lacks a subject or a verb. If you are trying to fix a fragment, consider "revising the sentence" by adding the missing elements.

What are some techniques for effectively "breaking down" a complex sentence?

Effective techniques include identifying the main clause, separating subordinate clauses, and simplifying vocabulary. Consider using "parsing sentence" to understand the sentence structure and then rewriting it for clarity.