A word chain device is unlikely to produce a sentence because it lacks an understanding of grammar and context, elements that humans intuitively use to arrange words meaningfully. Good writing involves conciseness and clarity, achieved by omitting needless words and effectively combining clauses.
The main answer to why a word chain device is unlikely to produce a sentence involves an understanding of the complexity of language and grammar. A word chain device randomly arranges words, which seldom result in a grammatically correct and semantically meaningful sentence. Unlike the intuitive recognition of grammar and sentence structure that humans possess, a word chain device lacks knowledge of syntactic rules and the context needed to construct valid sentences.
As an explanation, consider the example given where only one arrangement of the words 'that', 'how', 'happen', 'did' forms a valid sentence ('How did that happen?'). Humans can effortlessly discern the correct order because they understand grammar rules. Math can sometimes work in a similar way, where intuition can help us recognize patterns or solutions without needing to process all possibilities.
Good writing calls for conciseness and clarity. Avoiding unnecessary words is critical, as the text demonstrates by whittling down a wordy sentence to its essential message ('Omit needless words.'). Editing for clarity and brevity, and combining clauses effectively, can enhance the rhetorical impact of writing.