The syntax is the set of rules that helps readers and writers make sense of sentences. It's also an important tool writer can use to create various rhetorical or literary effects. The word “syntax” comes from the Ancient Greek for “coordination” or “ordering together.” In spoken and written language, syntax refers to the rules that determine the arrangement of words in a sentence. Along with diction, it is one of the critical ways writers convey meaning in a text
Syntax may be the difference between a drab line and a famous statement in the hands of a talented writer. Anyone may make their work stand out by combining syntax with certain literary devices like antithesis, chiasmus, or paradox. Just take a look at these well-known literary syntax examples.
"I am doing it far, far better than I have ever done it, and I am going to a far, far better rest than I have ever known."
A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens
Dickens employs syntax matching to create a connective comparison between past, present, and future occurrences in this well-known piece.
"People often hear and see what they listen for," said Albert Einstein.
To Kill by Harper Lee To Kill a Mockingbird
One of the best applications of syntax for writers is parallelism, or using the same structure for different phrases. As this passage from Lee shows, parallelism allows for direct comparisons and also sounds poetic.
As long as you deliberately choose which clauses come in what order, syntax can be used to subvert expectations and surprise readers with an unpredictable meaning.
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