phrases - Can I use "and" many times in one sentence?


I was always under the impression I should not use and more than once. I have this text:



I appreciate that all my previous work experience is within office based industries however I am a quick learner, keen and enthusiastic and am looking to change to ensure longevity of career and that the remainder of my working life is spent doing something that I enjoy and that I can feel passionate about.



Are there too many ands in that sentence?



Answer



You can certainly use more than one and in a sentence, and the rhetorical device is called polysyndeton.



At school today, we had sums and writing and play and dinner and a story and a prayer and then I came home.



Good writing style usually advocates a variety of sentence lengths. Some can be very short. You can certainly use and to join two related clauses together, and within one or both of those, you might use and as well.


One way of expressing what you want is as follows. I've also indicated changes in bold. Separate the different ideas into discrete sentences. If necessary, separate each of those sentences again.



I appreciate that all my previous work experience is within office based industries but I am a quick learner, keen and enthusiastic, so although the change appears drastic, I am confident that I can manage it. I am looking to change to ensure longevity of career and also that the remainder of my working life is spent doing something that I enjoy and can feel passionate about.


I appreciate that all my previous work experience is within office based industries but I am a quick learner, keen and enthusiastic, so although the change appears drastic, I am confident that I can manage it. I am looking to change to ensure longevity of career and also that the remainder of my working life is spent doing something that I enjoy and that I can feel passionate about.



You'll need something more concrete than "I am confident that I can manage it", of course.


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