COMMA SPLICE
A comma by itself cannot join two
sentences. Doing so creates a comma splice.
INCORRECT
EXAMPLE: The clouds created a dark sky, the
rain began to fall.
1. One
way to correct a comma splice is to write the information as two sentences.
CORRECT
EXAMPLE: The clouds created a dark sky. The rain began to fall.
2. Another
way to correct a comma splice would be to use a comma along with a coordinating
conjunction. There are seven
coordinating conjunctions whose first letters form the acronym FANBOYS:
For But
And Or
Nor
Yet
So
CORRECT
EXAMPLE: The clouds created a dark sky, and the rain began to fall.
3. A
third option to correct the comma splice is to use a semi-colon. This punctuation joins what could be two
sentences.
CORRECT EXAMPLE: The clouds created a dark sky; the rain began to fall.
SENTENCE FRAGMENTS
Sentence fragments are another
common error. A sentence fragment is a
group of words, not a complete sentence.
Remember that to be a complete sentence, a group of words must have a
subject and a verb and must express a complete idea. Thus a group of words must not depend on the
sentence before it or after it to provide a complete idea.
INCORRECT EXAMPLE: When working on your term paper, first develop a
time table to show when stages must be turned in. Usually one month before the due date.
Usually one month before the due
date is a sentence fragment. It does not contain a subject, a verb, nor a
complete thought. To correct this
fragment, add a subject and a verb.
CORRECT
EXAMPLE: When working on your term paper, first
develop a time table to show when stages must be turned in. Usually, you
should develop a time table one month before the due date.
NOTE: Verb
forms ending in -ing, -ed, or -en that do not have a helping verb cannot be used as the single
main verb in a complete sentence.
INCORRECT
EXAMPLE: The man painting our roof.
CORRECT
EXAMPLE: The man was painting our roof.
CORRECT
EXAMPLE: The man painting our roof had a dangerous job.
RUN-ON SENTENCES
Run-on sentences join too much
information, usually two independent clauses without a conjunction or correct
punctuation.
INCORRECT
EXAMPLE: Ms. Davis was my first
grade teacher in 1975 she is still teaching first grade today in the same
school.
CORRECT
EXAMPLE: Ms. Davis was my
first grade teacher in 1975. She is still teaching first grade today
in the same school.
CORRECT
EXAMPLE: Ms.
Davis was my first grade teacher in 1975,
and she is still teaching first grade today in the same school.
CORRECT
EXAMPLE: Ms. Davis was my
first grade teacher in 1975; she is
still teaching first grade today in the same school.
INCORRECT
EXAMPLE: My mother is the best
cook in the world even though she does not believe it I know she will win the
recipe contest at the county fair this year.
CORRECT
EXAMPLE: My mother is the
best cook in the world. Even though she does not believe it, I
know she will win the recipe contest at the county fair this year.
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