Download Sentence Grammar 3: Common Errors

Sentence Grammar 3: 3 Most Common Errors
The three most common errors that writers share are these: the fragment, the run-on, and the comma splice.
The Fragment
A fragment is just what it sounds like – a piece of the whole. In writing, when a sentence is missing a crucial
part (a subject, a verb, an independent clause, etc.), it is a fragment. A fragment is often punctuated like a
sentence, but because it is missing something, it is incomplete. Most commonly, a sentence fragment is a
dependent clause, but sometimes it is a phrase.
Examples: Because I come to class every day.
Which is a beautiful city.
Sipping coffee at Starbucks.
How to correct sentence fragments: After identifying that a sentence is a fragment, try to figure out why.
What is it missing? When you know what it’s missing, you can figure out what you need to add.
Examples: Because I come to class every day, I learn a lot.
Seattle, which is a beautiful city, has many tourists in the summer.
Sipping coffee at Starbucks, Nina eyed the handsome barista.
Fragments are tricky because we use them frequently when we speak (especially dependent clause fragments).
They are unacceptable in writing, however. When you proofread, make sure that your sentences have all their
necessary parts. If parts are missing, add them!
The Run-On
The run-on (or the run-on sentence or the fused sentence) is the opposite of a fragment. Where the fragment
has too little information, the run-on contains too much. It has too many subjects, verbs, or clauses. Run-ons
are easily fixed: just chop them up in a way that works. When you proofread, you generally want 1-2 subjects
and verbs per sentence. If you find you have 3-4, you probably have a run-on.
Examples: We are talking about writing errors we are learning to recognize our mistakes.
He called her she wasn’t there and they broke up but later they got back together now they are
married.
How to correct run-on sentences: You can do four basic things to correct a run-on sentence.
1. Create multiple sentences by breaking up the independent clauses.
Example: We are talking about writing errors. We are learning to recognize our
mistakes.
2. Add a semicolon in between independent clauses. Notice the difference in capitalization.
Example: We are talking about writing errors; we are learning to recognize our
mistakes.
3. Place a comma and a coordinating conjunction (FANBOYS) between the independent
clauses.
Example: We are talking about writing errors, and we are learning to recognize our
mistakes.
4. Restructure the sentence so that one clause becomes dependent.
Example: Because we are talking about writing errors, we are learning to recognize our
mistakes.
The Comma Splice
The Comma splice is a different kind of run-on. This is a super common mistake! The comma splice
happens when you use a comma between two independent clauses or between what should be two
separate sentences. It’s like a run-on with a comma. It’s not okay, and it’s easily fixable.
Examples:
We are talking about writing errors, we are learning to recognize our mistakes.
He called her, she wasn’t there, and they broke up, but later they got back together, now
they are married.
4 ways to fix comma splices (the same four ways as above – here they are with the many clauses):
1. Add a period and make simple (but choppy!) sentences:
He called her. She wasn’t there. and They broke up. but Later they got back together.
Now they are married.
2. Add a semi colon instead of a period:
He called her; she wasn’t there; and they broke up; but later they got back together; now
they are married.
3. Add one of the FANBOYS to make a compound sentence:
He called her, but she wasn’t there. They broke up, but later they got back together, and
now they are married.
4. Restructure the sentence (probably the best choice for so many clauses):
He called her, but she wasn’t there. Although they broke up, later they got back together.
Now they are married.