Writing Tips
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Index C
- caddie
- caddy
- Caesar
- Caesarean
- Caesarism
- caldron
- Calgarian
- Calgary
- call a halt to
- call an end to
- call into question
- camomile
- Canada
- Canada Day
- Canadian dollar (symbol) (Linguistic recommendation from the Translation Bureau)
- Canadianisms: Prairies
- CANDU
- Candu
- can not
- cannot
- cantaloup
- cantaloupe
- canvas
- canvass
- capable of
- capacity for
- capital
- capitalization: astronomical terms
- capitalization: biological terms
- capitalization: buildings
- capitalization: chemical and medical terms
- capitalization: compounds
- capitalization: copyrighted names
- capitalization: cultural periods
- capitalization: deities
- capitalization: family relationships
- capitalization: general points
- capitalization: geographical terms
- capitalization: governments and government bodies
- capitalization: headings
- capitalization: initial words
- capitalization: institutions
- capitalization: legal usage
- capitalization: lists
- capitalization: medals
- capitalization: military terms
- capitalization: modes of transportation
- capitalization: names of institutions
- capitalization of logos
- capitalization: parts of a book or document
- capitalization: personal names
- capitalization: personifications and abstractions
- capitalization: political parties and movements
- capitalization: publications and works of art
- capitalization: races; languages; peoples
- capitalization: salutation and complimentary close
- capitalization: school subjects
- capitalization: scientific names containing personal names
- capitalization: seasons
- capitalization: SI/metric units
- capitalization: single letters used as words
- capitalization: sporting events and trophies
- capitalization: terms indicating time or sequence
- capitalization: terms related to religion
- capitalization: time references and historical periods and events
- capitalization: words derived from proper nouns
- capitalizing member of Parliament
- capitalizing shortened titles
- capital letters for emphasis
- capitals in titles of office or rank
- Capitol
- carat
- caret
- Cariboo
- caribou
- carousal
- carousel
- carrot
- carrousel
- carry out an examination of
- case law
- cast
- caste
- catalyse
- catalyze
- cater-corner
- catsup
- cauldron
- CDT
- ceed and cede
- CEGEP
- censor
- censure
- centi-
- Central Daylight Time
- Central Standard Time
- centre on
- chamomile
- chaperon
- chaperone
- chapter and verse
- characteristic
- chargeable
- Charlottetonian
- Charlottetown
- Charlottetowner
- Chechen
- check
- check in
- check-in
- cheque
- chord
- Christmas
- circum-
- cite
- City of Gardens
- City of Québec
- classic
- classical
- clear communication: choose positive over negative phrasing
- clear communication: coherence
- clear communication: overview of the writing process and techniques
- clear communication: polish your paragraphs
- clear communication: reduce redundancy
- clear communication: responsibilities of writers
- clear communication: simplify your sentences
- clear communication: transition words
- clear communication: turn nouns into verbs
- clear communication: use clear words and expressions
- clear communication: use the active voice
- clear communication: write clear and effective briefing notes
- clear communication: write relevant and effective emails
- clear verbal communication
- cliché
- close proximity
- close scrutiny
- closure
- cloture
- cluster together
- co-
- collectable
- collectible
- collocate
- colloquial
- co-locate
- colon
- coloration
- colour
- colourful
- combat
- combine
- combine together
- come as a disappointment
- comma after a clause acting as subject
- comma before because
- commas for clarity and emphasis
- commas for omitted words
- commas in a date
- commas in geographical names and addresses
- commas properly omitted
- commas with absolute expressions
- commas with adjective clauses
- commas with adverb clauses
- commas with appositives
- commas with direct address
- commas with interjections
- commas with introductory elements
- commas with names and titles
- commas with non-restrictive elements
- commas with parenthetic expressions
- commas with such as
- commas with tag questions
- commence
- commend for
- commensurate with
- common
- compare
- compare to
- compare with
- compass points
- complement
- completely revolutionize
- complex sentence
- compliment (1)
- compliment (2)
- compliment on
- comply with
- compose
- compound-complex sentence
- compound personal pronouns
- compound sentences
- comprise (1)
- comprise (2)
- concern
- concerned
- concur in
- concur with
- conformity with
- conform to
- conjunctive adverb
- connaisseur
- connoisseur
- consensus
- consensus of opinion
- consistent with
- consist in
- consist of
- constitute
- contend with
- continual
- continuous
- contra-
- contrast
- contrast with
- converge on
- conversant with
- coolist
- co-op
- co-operate
- co-operation
- co-operative
- coordinate elements
- coordinating conjunctions
- Coppermine
- copy
- cord
- correlate with
- correlative conjunctions
- correspond to
- correspond with
- cosy
- could have
- could of
- could’ve
- council
- councillor
- counsel
- counsellor
- counter-
- couple more
- couple of
- courses and degrees
- Cowtown
- cozy
- cracker
- Croat
- Croatian
- CST
- cue
- cue up
- culminate in
- custom
- Cypro-
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Search and Functionalities Area
compound-complex sentence
As its name suggests, this type of sentence combines the features of compound and complex sentences:
- being compound, it contains more than one independent clause (IC); and
- being complex, it contains at least one dependent clause (DC).
The compound-complex sentence allows for an endless variety of sentence patterns, from very basic to highly complex.
Basic pattern
The most basic pattern has two independent clauses (IC + IC), together with one dependent clause (DC), which can be attached at the beginning, middle or end. Here are some examples from Canadian authors, with the dependent clauses in italics.
DC at the beginning: DC + IC + IC
- When she asked him where to get the Montreal train, he pointed across the station to a queue of people lined up before a pair of gates, and she picked up her suitcase and made her way toward it. [Hugh Garner, “A Trip for Mrs. Taylor,” 1969]
DC in the middle: IC + DC + IC
- The time is not far distant when [Canada] shall be the theme of many tongues, and the old nations of the world will speak of her progress with respect and admiration. [Susanna Moodie, Life in the Clearings, 1853]
DC at the end: IC + IC + DC
- He pushed on between daisy-starred meadows and fields of young oats, and there on the shoulder of the hill was the long, low log house, tree-shaded and friendly, where he had been born. [Grace Campbell, Thorn-Apple Tree, 1942]
More complex patterns
A compound-complex sentence very often contains more than three clauses. Here is just one example of a longer sentence, containing five clauses:
2 ICs with 3 DCs: IC + DC + DC + DC + IC
- Any man will admit, if need be, that his sight is not good, or that he cannot swim, or shoots badly with a rifle, but to touch upon his sense of humour is to give him a mortal affront. [Stephen Leacock, Further Foolishness, 1916]
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