The idea or words you want emphasized should be at the beginning or at the end of the sentence. They gain even greater emphasis if they occupy the beginning or end of the sentence. All other things being equal, independent clauses receive more emphasis than dependent clauses . This guideline coincides with the fact that the sentence's subject and verb are emphatic slots and are always found in the independent clause. Because I told the truth, she cried for a long time.
Nouns located in prepositional phrases receive little emphasis.
Underline the letter for the last sentence in each paragraph. As with length, variety in structure piques the reader's interest and also helps you see the connections between your ideas. Moreover, varying the structures will help you place the emphasis more effectively. Failing to go to church with Percy, gambling at cards, and choosing Selden's company over his, Lily loses her chance to 'secure' Percy's marriage proposal. Here, present participles are placed at the beginning to elaborate upon the sentence's predicate verb - loses .