87. Classified as to their rhetorical construction, sentences are considered as loose, periodic, and balanced.
The LOOSE SENTENCE is so constructed that it may be closed at two or more places and yet make complete sense; as,
Napoleon felt his _weakness_, and tried to win back popular _favor_ by concession after _concession_, until, at his fall, he had nearly restored parliamentary _government_.
Note that this sentence could be closed after the words. _weakness, favor_, and _concession_, as well as after _government_.
88. The PERIODIC SENTENCE holds the complete thought in suspense until the close of the sentence. Compare the following periodic sentence with the loose sentence under §87:
Napoleon, feeling his weakness, and trying to win back popular favor by concession after concession, had, at his fall, nearly restored parliamentary government.
Both loose and periodic sentences are proper to use, but, since periodic sentences demand more careful and definite thought, the untrained writer should try to use them as much as possible.
89. The BALANCED SENTENCE is made up of parts similar in form, but often contrasted in meaning; as, _He is a man; Jones is a gentleman._
90. SENTENCE LENGTH. As to the length of the sentence there is no fixed rule. Frequently, sentences are too long, and are, in their thought, involved and hard to follow. On the other hand, if there is a succession of short sentences, choppiness and roughness are the result. One should carefully examine sentences which contain more than thirty or thirty-five words to see that they are clear in their meaning and accurate in their construction.
_Compose, or search out in your reading, five loose sentences, five periodic sentences, and five balanced sentences._
_In the following sentences, determine whether each sentence is loose, periodic, or balanced. Change all loose sentences to the periodic form:_
1. At the same time the discontent of the artisans made the lower class fear a revolution, and that class turned to Napoleon, because they felt him to be the sole hope for order and stable government.
2. The members of the council were appointed by the king, and held office only at his pleasure.
3. A society and institutions that had been growing up for years was overturned and swept away by the French Revolution.