Website lesson 8 verbs
Put the Verb Near the Beginning of the Sentence
Lesson 8 of 20 Thesis Editing Tips
From the Examiner’s Desk
“I frequently examine theses in which years of excellent research are obscured by weak writing.”
Many writing guides focus on grammar.
This lesson focuses on readability.
Its purpose is to help readers understand your ideas more quickly and with less effort.
As a PhD examiner and thesis editor, I frequently read sentences that contain excellent ideas but are surprisingly difficult to understand.
The problem is often not the research.
It is the sentence structure.
One of the simplest ways to improve clarity is to place the main verb near the beginning of the sentence.
When readers encounter the subject first and the verb soon afterwards, they understand the sentence almost immediately.
When the verb is delayed, readers must remember several pieces of information before discovering what the sentence is actually about.
Across a 200-page thesis, this greatly increases reader fatigue.
Why the Position of the Verb Matters
English naturally follows a Subject–Verb–Object (SVO) sentence structure.
Readers expect the action to appear shortly after the subject.
When several descriptive phrases separate the subject from the verb, readers must hold more information in their working memory before they reach the main action.
As the distance between the subject and the verb increases, sentences become more difficult to read.
Good academic writing reduces this unnecessary effort.
Before and After
Before
❌ A study of 100 adolescents with diabetes receiving treatment in one of two managed care settings found that only 67% had sought professional care for their symptoms.
After
✅ A study found that only 67% of 100 adolescents with diabetes who received treatment in one of two managed care settings had sought professional care for their symptoms.
Nothing has been removed.
The information has simply been organised so that readers reach the main verb much sooner.
More Examples
Example 1
❌ The rapid increase in antibiotic resistance among bacterial isolates collected from tertiary hospitals throughout the province has created significant concern.
✅ Antibiotic resistance has increased rapidly among bacterial isolates collected from tertiary hospitals throughout the province.
The revised sentence introduces the action much earlier.
Example 2
❌ The comprehensive analysis of the experimental results obtained during the final phase of the investigation demonstrated a significant difference between the treatment groups.
✅ The final analysis demonstrated a significant difference between the treatment groups.
The revised sentence communicates exactly the same idea more efficiently.
Example 3
❌ Several factors influencing the nutritional status of elderly patients admitted during winter were identified.
✅ The study identified several factors influencing the nutritional status of elderly patients admitted during winter.
The revised sentence immediately tells readers who performed the action.
Avoid Long Introductions
Many students begin sentences with long introductory phrases.
For example:
❌ Based on the observations obtained during the preliminary phase of the investigation…
Ask yourself whether the introductory phrase is really necessary.
Very often, the sentence becomes stronger when the subject appears first.
💬 WhatsApp with Dr Anastasia Apostolides (reasonable hours)
Why Examiners Notice This
Examiners read hundreds of pages.
They appreciate writing that communicates ideas efficiently.
When the verb appears late in sentence after sentence, reading becomes unnecessarily slow.
The research may be excellent, but the presentation makes it harder to appreciate.
Some of the strongest theses I have examined were not the most complicated.
They explained complex ideas clearly and directly.
Practical Editing Strategies
During your final edit:
• Underline the subject.
• Circle the main verb.
• Count the words between them.
• If several descriptive phrases interrupt the flow, consider moving the verb closer to the beginning.
This is not a strict grammatical rule.
It is an editing technique that often improves readability immediately.
You do not need to apply it to every sentence.
Variation creates natural writing.
However, if many sentences delay the verb, bringing it forward will usually make your thesis easier to read.
Quick Editing Checklist
Before submitting your thesis, ask yourself:
✓ Can I identify the subject immediately?
✓ Does the main verb appear reasonably early in the sentence?
✓ Have I removed unnecessary introductory phrases?
✓ Is the action clear on first reading?
✓ Can I shorten the sentence without changing its meaning?
Key Takeaway
Complex research does not require complicated sentences.
Readers understand ideas more easily when they encounter the main action early.
Moving the verb closer to the beginning of a sentence often improves clarity without removing any information.
Small improvements in sentence structure help your examiner concentrate on your research instead of your writing.
Need Professional Thesis Editing?
If you would like an experienced PhD examiner to review your thesis before submission, I’d be happy to help.
Whether you need a complete thesis edit, advice on improving clarity or feedback on a proposal, feel free to get in touch.
Dr Anastasia Apostolides
PhD Examiner • Thesis Editor • Proposal & Academic Consultant
Helping Master’s, MBA, DBA and PhD students write with clarity and confidence.
💬 WhatsApp with Dr Anastasia Apostolides (reasonable hours)
📧 Email: info@uedit.org
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Continue Learning
This article is part of the 20 Thesis Editing Tips series.
Continue to the next lesson or explore the complete collection of free thesis resources to strengthen every stage of your academic writing.