In English sentences, readers look to sentence beginnings--the subject position--for key ideas and to the main verb position for key actions. That's why 95 percent of the sentences you read use subject-verb-object structure. Good writers know that this structure communicates ideas efficiently.

Why then do some people write sentences like the one below?

It is apparent that the provision of more accurate results will be the outcome of the new testing procedure.

The subject of that sentence is "It." The verb is "is." The writer has used the subject and main verb positions, but the reader hasn't learned anything yet.

Sentences are more effective if they begin with the topic under discussion. Compare the original sentence to the rewrite below:

The new testing procedure will provide more accurate results.

If you read both versions, you can HEAR the difference in the sentences' power. The rewrite is more effective because it puts information where the reader expects to find it: key idea (the new testing procedure) in the subject position and key action (will provide) in the main verb position.

Over the new few weeks we'll explore how to place key words in power positions.