COMMON SENTENCE ERRORS

Comma Splices (CS)

Run-On Sentences (RO)
Sentence Fragments (Frag.)
1. What is a Comma Splice (CS)?

A comma splice is a sentence with at least two independent clauses joined only by a comma.
There is no conjunction or proper transition separate the independent clauses
2. What is a Run-On (RO)?
A run-on sentence is a sentence with at least two independent clauses with no punctuation to separate the
clauses
Readers cant tell where one clause ends and the next one begins. It just keeps going and going and going
and going and going...
Also called a fused sentence.

Examples of Independent Clauses (IC):

The boy walked to school.

Sarah needed to go to the grocery store.

He arrived at 9:00 a.m.

She had to buy eggs to make breakfast.

ICs Written as Comma Splices:

The boy walked to school, he arrived at 9:00 a.m.
Sarah needed to go to the grocery store, she had to buy eggs to make breakfast.
ICs Written as Run-Ons
The boy walked to school he arrived at 9:00 a.m.
Sarah needed to go to the grocery store she had to buy eggs to make breakfast.
3. Ways to Fix These Errors
SIX WAYS
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COMMA SPLICES AND RUN-ONS

#1: Use a Transitional Expression : Join the two clauses with semi-colon (;), transitional expression, and
a comma (,)

The boy walked to school; soon, he arrived at 9:00 a.m.

Sarah needed to go to the grocery store; specifically, she had to buy eggs to make breakfast.
#2: Turn It into a Compound Sentence : Join the two clauses with a comma and a coordinating
conjunction (and, but, or, nor, for, so, yet).
Just be sure to choose the conjunction that best expresses the relationship between the two clauses.
The boy walked to school, and arrived at 9:00 a.m.
Sarah needed to go to the grocery store, so she could buy eggs to make breakfast.
#3: Join the Two Clauses : with a semi-colon (;)
The boy walked to school; he arrived at 9:00 a.m.
Sarah needed to go to the grocery store; she had to buy eggs to make breakfast.
#4: Separate the Clauses into Two Sentences
The boy walked to school. He arrived at 9:00 a.m.
Sarah needed to go to the grocery store. She had to buy eggs to make breakfast.
#5: Turn One of the Clauses into a Dependent Clause
Since the boy walked to school, he arrived at 9:00 a.m.
Because she needed eggs to make breakfast, Sarah needed to go to the grocery store.
#6: Transform the Two Clauses into a Single Independent Clause
Written as a CS/RO: I realized that it was time to choose, I had to learn how to drive or I had to move
back to the city.
Corrected: I realized that it was time to learn how to drive or move back to the city.
4. What is a Sentence Fragment?
Fragments are incomplete sentences. Usually, they are pieces of sentences that have become
disconnected from the main clause. Sometimes fragments are used intentionally for emphasis. In formal,
academic writing, however, you want to mostly avoid fragments.
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A Complete Sentence
Names a subject the who or what that performs the action
Has a complete verb that indicates tense, person, and number.
Includes at least one independent clause and does not begin with a subordinating word (a word that
connects a dependent clause to an independent clause).
+ Examples of Complete Sentences:

Simple Sentencesubject, verb, predicate:

Rebecca studied in the coffee shop for her chemistry quiz.
Compound Sentenceat least two independent clauses connected by a coordinator/connector word:
Rebecca studied in the coffee shop for her chemistry quiz, and she also wrote her paper.
Complex Sentenceone independent clause (main clause) and one dependent clause:
Rebecca studied in the coffee shop for hours because she had a chemistry quiz the next day.
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A Dependent Clause
is a group of words that contains a subject and a verb but does not express a complete thought and
cannot be a sentence.
Often you can identify a dependent clause because it begins with a connecting (conjunctive or
subordinating) wordsee the Connecting Word List hand out to learn what these words are.
+ Example:

Because Rebecca studied in the coffee shop for hours.

Although Rebecca studied in the coffee shop for hours.
And Rebecca studied in the coffee shop for hours.

(The thoughts are incompletethey are fragments of thoughts.)

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5. Several Types of Fragments

Dependent clause fragments
Phrase fragments
Mixed constructions
Fragments that begin with transitions
Fragments that introduce examples
Fragments that are appositives
Fragments that introduce lists
Fragments with compound predicates
6. Dependent Clause Fragments

These begin with a subordinating word. (See the handout on Connecting Words for examples.)
They can be easily fixed by attaching the fragment to nearby independent clause either with a comma (,)
or by creating two sentences by deleting the subordinating word at the beginning of the dependent clause.

7. Fixing Dependent Clause Fragments

Fragment: MSU offers many engineering majors. Such as electrical, chemical, and industrial
engineering.

Revision: MSU offers many engineering majors, such as electrical, chemical, and industrial
engineering.

Fragment: I need to find a new roommate. Because the one I have now isnt working out too well.
Revision: I need to find a new roommate because the one I have now isnt working out too well.

EXCEPTION: Never use a comma before the word because.

8. Phrase Fragments
Often fragments are phrase fragments groups of words that lack a subject or complete verb and are
usually meant to be modifiers or nouns.
Phrase fragments usually begin with verbals, or words that come from verbs, like putting (gerund) or to
put (infinitive).
9. Fixing Phrase Fragments
One way to fix this is to transform the phrase fragment into an independent clause.

Fragment: That summer we had so much fun. Fishing in the early morning, splashing in the lake
after lunch, exploring the woods before dinner, and playing Scrabble until bedtime.

Revision: That summer we had so much fun. We fished in the early morning, splashed in the lake
after lunch, explored the woods before dinner, and played Scrabble until bedtime.

10. Fixing Phrase Fragments

Another way to fix it is to attach the fragment to the part of the previous sentence that it modifies.

Fragment: That summer we had so much fun. Fishing in the early morning, splashing in the lake
after lunch, exploring the woods before dinner, and playing Scrabble until bedtime.

Revision: That summer we had so much fun, fishing in the early morning, splashing in the lake
after lunch, exploring the woods before dinner, and playing Scrabble until bedtime.

11. Mixed Construction Fragments

Mixed Constructions start out one way (often with long prepositional phrases) and then end with a regular
predicate. Usually the object of the preposition (often a gerund, is intended as the subject of the sentence.
Therefore, removing the preposition at the beginning of the sentence is usually the easiest way to fix the
fragment error.
Look for sentences that begin with prepositional phrases.
12. Fixing Mixed Construction Fragments
(No subject; begins with preposition)

Fragment: With the ultimate effect of all advertising is to sell the product.
Revision: The ultimate effect of all advertising is to sell the product.
(remove the preposition with)

(No subject; begins with preposition)

Fragment: By paying too much attention to disruptive students can make a teacher grumpy.
Revision: Paying too much attention to disruptive students can make teacher grumpy.
(remove the preposition by)

(No subject; begins with preposition)

Fragment: For doing photography for another newspaper got Phil fired.
Revision:Doing photography for another newspaper got Phil fired.
(remove the preposition for)
Revision: Phil got fired for doing photography for another newspaper.
(rearrange the sentence)

13. Fragments that Begin with Transitions

Word Groups that Start with Transitions
Some fragments start with two- or three-word prepositions that function as transitions, like as well as, as
compared with, except for, in addition to, in contrast with, in spite of, and instead of.

Fragment: For sixty-five years, the growth in consumer spending has been both steep and steady.
As compared with the growth in gross domestic product (GDP), which has fluctuated
significantly.
Revision: For sixty-five years, the growth in consumer spending has been both steep and steady,
as compared with the growth in gross domestic product (GDP), which has fluctuated
significantly.

14. Fragments that Introduce Examples

Words and Phrases that Introduce Examples
It is always a good idea to check words groups beginning with for example, like, specifically, such as, etc.

Fragment: Elizabeth I of England faced many dangers as a princess. For example, falling out of
favor with her sister, Queen Mary, and being imprisoned in the Tower of London.
Revision: Elizabeth I of England faced many dangers as a princess. For example, she fell out of
favor with her sister, Queen Mary, and was imprisoned in the Tower of London.

15. Appositives as Fragments

An appositive is a noun or noun phrase that renames a noun or pronoun.

Fragment: In 1965, Lyndon Johnson increased the number of troops in Vietnam. A former French
colony in southeast Asia.
Revision: In 1965, Lyndon Johnson increased the number of troops in Vietnam, a former French
colony in southeast Asia.
Fragment: Charlotte Perkins Gillman wrote The Yellow Wallpaper. A story with deep thoughts
and emotions.
Revision: Charlotte Perkins Gillman wrote The Yellow Wallpaper, a story with deep thoughts
and emotions.

16. List Fragments

Usually, you can connect a list to the preceding sentence using a colon.

Fragment: In the 1930s, three great band leaders helped popularize Jazz. Louis Armstrong, Benny
Goodman, and Duke Ellington.
Revision: In the 1930s, three great band leaders helped popularize Jazz including: Louis
Armstrong, Benny Goodman, and Duke Ellington.

17. Fragments with Compound Predicates

A compound predicate is made up of at least two verbs as well as their objects and modifiers, connected
by a coordinating conjunction such as and, but, so, or, nor, for, and yet. The parts of the predicate have
the same subject and should be together in one sentence.

Fragment: The group gathered at dawn at the base of the mountain. And assembled their gear in
preparation for the mornings climb.
Revision: The group gathered at dawn at the base of the mountain and assembled their gear in
preparation for the mornings climb.