+95.  Unity, Coherence, and Emphasis in Sentences.+—­On pages 153-155 we have considered the principles of unity, coherence, and emphasis as applied to the whole composition.  In much the same way these principles are applicable to the sentence.  A sentence possesses unity if all that it contains makes one complete statement, and no more; and if all minor ideas are made subordinate to one main idea.  The effect must be single.  A sentence exhibits coherence when the relation of all of its parts is perfectly clear.  We secure emphasis in the sentence by placing ideas that deserve distinction in conspicuous positions; by arranging the members of a series in the order of climax; by using specific rather than general terms; by expressing thoughts with directness and simplicity; and by employing the devices of balance and contrast.

We must remember that, in the sentence as well as in the whole composition and the paragraph, if coherence and unity are secured, emphasis is quite likely to follow naturally.  On the other hand, a violation of coherence or unity often results in a lack of emphasis.

+96.  Unity in the sentence is affected unfavorably by+—­

1. The presence of more than one main thought. (Stonewall Jackson was a general in the Confederate Army, and he is said to have been a very religious man.) In this sentence two distinct thoughts are embodied, and in such a way that their relation to each other is altogether illogical.  The effect is not that of a single thought.  To possess unity the two or more thoughts of a compound sentence should sustain some particular relation, like cause and effect, contrast, series, details of a picture.  We can unite the two thoughts in a perfectly logical sentence, thus:  (Stonewall Jackson, the Confederate general, is said to have been a very religious man.)

2. The addition of too many dependent clauses. (The boy was startled when he awoke, for he heard the plan of his captors, who were preparing to seize the boat, which had been left by his friends who had so mysteriously deserted him at a time when he needed them most.) Here, the numerous dependent clauses tacked on obscure the main thought.  The sentence should be broken up and, where possible, clauses should be reduced to phrases and words. (The boy was startled when he awoke, for he heard the plan of his captors.  They were preparing to seize the boat left by his friends, who had deserted him in the hour of greatest need.)

3. The presence of incongruous ideas. (With his hair combed and his shoes blacked, he gave the impression of being a very strong man.) The ideas of this sentence have no logical relation to each other.  There is little likelihood, too, of making them more congruous by any change in the sentence.  Blacking one’s shoes and combing one’s hair do not make one look strong.  The remedy for such a sentence is to separate the incongruous ideas.