Repetition . . . and Friday's Quiz Answers

Repetition in sentence contruction isn't always bad--it happens in many poems and sometimes it is appropriate in prose, but sometimes it isn't, and that's when we need to pay attention to sentence variety.

"Located south of U.S. 80, you will discover the 100 year-old "Old Forney," containing numberous turn-of-the-century buildings and homes. Strolling through this historic area, you will savor the ambiance and romance of an earlier time. In downtown, The 1889 Farmers Bank block and the 1900 Knights of Pythias block house a variety of stores and businesses to discover. Nearby Center and Bois d' Arc streets are lined with elegant houses, built by the early hay and cotton barons. "Old Forney," many say, is the undiscovered "jewel" of the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex. Don't miss it!"

Nearly every sentence in the above paragraph starts the same way. The repetition does not add anything to the information. The paragraph can be written with more sentence variety:

Drive south of U.S. 80 and you will discover the 100-year-old "Old Forney," containing numerous turn-of-the-century buildings. Stroll through this historic area and savor the ambiance and romance of an earlier time. Downtown provides a variety of stores and businesses to discover, particularly in the 1889 Farmers Bank block and 1900 Knights of Pythias block. Elegant houses, built by the early hay and cotton barrons, line nearby Center and Bois d' Arc streets. "Old Forney," many say, is the undiscovered "jewel" of the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex. Don't miss it!

Answers for Friday's Literary Quiz on J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series

1. Harry's owl is named Hedwig.
2. Hagrid's umbrella is pink.
3. Florian Fortescue runs the ice cream shop in Daigon Alley.
4. Barty Crouch, Jr. cast the Dark Mark after the World Cup Quidditch match.
5. Aunt Marge was inflated so much she rose into the air.
6. Fred and George Weasley's shop is Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes.
7. Hermione discovered that Rita Skeeter was an unregistered animagus.
8. Ginny and Hermoine's nickname for Fleur is Phlegm.
9. Harry drank Polyjuice Potion to attend Bill and Fleur's wedding in the guise of Barney Weasley.
10. Harry and Ginny named their oldest son James after Harry's father, their daughter Lily after Harry's mother, and their youngest son Albus Severus after Albus Dumbledore and Severus Snape.