THREE COMMON

SENTENCE ERRORS
What are the three common ST errors?

Sentence Fragment (SF)

Missing
a subject or a verb
Dependent clause

Run-on Sentence (RO)

Two or more sentences/independent clauses joined
incorrectly
Comma Splice (Com S)
In joining sentences a comma is used incorrectly
Three Common Sentence Errors
Yesterdays weather caused problems for many
travelers. Most of the flights were canceled. Due to
the torrential rains and high winds.
SF: Due to the torrential rains and high
winds, most of the flights were canceled.
Computer programs can help students learn a
foreign language, many students use the language
programs in the computer center.
Comma S: Computer programs can help
students learn a foreign language, so many students
use the language programs in the computer center.
Three Common Sentence Errors
It was definitely a nervous time for many people. When
we had the economic crisis, prices and unemployment
soared. The government did everything possible to
make sure that people did not panic.
Correct!

Dancing with the Stars is an internationally known

television show, the dancing is very exciting.
Com S/RO: Dancing with the Stars is an
internationally known television show. The dancing
is very exciting.
Three Common Sentence Errors
This magazine won several awards last year. For the content
and style of its stories. The last issue had two superb short
stories that were written by distinguished authors.
SF: For the content and style of its stories, this
magazine won several awards last year. The last issue
had two superb short stories that were written by
distinguished authors

Lazaro Cardenas was the president of Mexico from 1934 to

1940. His original goal was to become a teacher the
political situation in Mexico at that time caused him to
change his mind.
RO: His original goal was to become a teacher, but
the political situation in Mexico at that time caused him
to change his mind.
Three Common Sentence Errors
Jane is the most beautiful girl in our town, she
is really nice too.
Type: RO, Com S
Correction: Jane is the most beautiful girl in
our town, and she is really nice too.

Because we care. We want to help out.

Type: SF
Correction: Because we care, we want to help
out.
 When I go to school in the morning I
always take the subway.
NOT any of the three common error types!
This is a sentence type error (remember the
simple/compound/complex ST lesson?). There
is a comma missing after the dependent clause
in this complex ST.
Correction: When I go to school in the
morning, I always take the subway.
 Cats are very clean animals and they are cute
and they are very quiet.
Type: RO
Correction: Cate are very clean animals, and
they are cute. Also, they are very quiet.

You should turn off the lights, when you get out
of the bathroom.
Type: None of the 3 common types. ST type
error
Correction: You should turn off the light when
you get out of the bathroom
 I saw an old lady with a heavy box. Helped
her carry the box.
Type: SF
Correction: I saw an old lady with a heavy box, so I
helped her carry the box
OR
I saw an old lady with a heavy box. So, I helped
her carry the box.
 Europe is one of the most fun places to visit in
the world because you can experience a
mixture of a lot of different cultures and
because you can try a lot of different food.
Type: RO
Correction: Europe is one of the most fun places to visit
in the world because you can experience a mixture of
a lot of different cultures. In addition, it is fun because
you can try a lot of different food.
Three Common Sentence Errors
Despite all of the extremely depressing news that
we recently heard from that part of the world.
SF: This is a sentence fragment because 1) the
sentence does not have a subject 2) despite is a
subordinating conjunction

Possiblecorrection: Despite all of the extremely

depressing news that we recently heard from that part
of the world, we are hopeful that people there will
persevere through the difficulties.
 Last winter I went to South Africa with my
family, we spent two weeks there and it
was really wonderful.
Type: RO, Com S
Correction: Last winter I went to South Africa
with my family. We spent two weeks there, and
it was really wonderful.
 You need to wash the ingredients first,
then cut them up into thin slices.
Type: RO, Com S
Correction: You need to wash the
ingredients first, and then cut them up into
thing slices.
 Mary decided to go to the movie
theater with her friends, although she
has a lot of homework.
Type: None of the 3 types. A ST type error
Correction: Mary decided to go to the
movie theater with her friends although she
has a lot of homework.