word order

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

These include word order preferences, such as whether verbs come before or after objects, and hierarchical structures, such as how grammatical relationships are marked within sentences.

From Science Daily • Apr. 5, 2026

The literary term “anastrophe” refers to the technique of reversing word order in a sentence for effect.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 20, 2023

At the talk Nordlinger asked Levinson what would happen if participants spoke a language with free word order.

From Scientific American • Oct. 18, 2023

There are various accents and dialects, but the most famous variant may be Yoda’s, which changes the word order of Galactic Basic Standard.

From Slate • Dec. 4, 2019

That comes in handy in implementing the two principles of composition when they would otherwise be stymied by the rigid word order of English.

From "The Sense of Style" by Steven Pinker