Inversion in Formal Writing

Beyond fronted negative adverbials, formal and literary English uses inversion after conditional "had/were/should" (without "if") and after certain place adverbials, adding a formal or dramatic tone.

Examples

• Had I known, I would have acted differently.
• Were she to arrive late, the meeting would proceed without her.
• Should you need assistance, please contact the front desk.
• Down the hill rolled the ball.
• So great was the pressure that the pipe finally burst.

Common Mistakes

Practice

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