Common Sentence Error

Common Sentence-level Errors The Run-On, The Comma Splice, The Fragment RUN-ON A support or fused sentence is two independent clauses that are not separated by any punctuation. Run-on Wearing a seatbelt is not honorable a good idea its the law. Revision Wearing a seatbelt is not sightly a good idea its the law. Even if one or some(prenominal) of the fused sentences contain internal punctuation, the sentence is still a run-on. COMMA SPLICE A comma splice is the unjustifiable use of only a comma to combine two separate sentences. One should use either a period, a semicolon, or a coordinate conjunction and a comma to separate the two statements. ) Comma splice Wearing a seatbelt is not just a good idea, its the law. Revision Wearing a seatbelt is not just a good idea its the law. =========================================== Both run-on sentences and comma splices whitethorn be corrected in any of the following ways Run-on Tevon won the award he had the highest score. Comma splice Tevon won the award, he had the highest score. 1. Separate the sentences with a period. Tevon won the award. He had the highest score. 2. Separate the sentences with a comma and a coordinating conjunction (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, and so). o Tevon won the award, for he had the highest score. 3. Separate the sentences with a semicolon. o Tevon won the award he had the highest score. If a conjunctive adverb like therefore, however, then, or wherefore separates the two sentences, use a semicolon also. o I was unwilling to testify however, I did it anyway. 4. Separate the sentences with a subordinating conjunction such as although, because, since, or if. Tevon won the award because he had the highest score. Page 2 SENTENCE FRAGMENT A fragment is an incomplete construction which may or may not have a subject and a verb. Specifically, a fragment is a group of words pretending to be a sentence. That group of words may be A phrase A dependent Clause Fragment calling was stalled for ten miles on the freeway. Because repairs were being made on potholes. Revision Traffic was stalled for ten miles on the freeway because repairs were being made on potholes. Fragment It was an excellent movie one that was nominate for an Oscar. Fragment It was an excellent movie. One that was nominated for an Oscar. Revision It was an excellent movie, one that was nominated for an Oscar. - Fragment Prospectors invaded the freshly discovered territory. Some in wagons, some on horseback, and a few in to a great extent laden canoes.Fragment Prospectors invaded the newly discovered territory some in wagons, some on horseback, and a few in heavily laden canoes. Revision Prospectors invaded the newly discovered territory, some in wagons, some on horseback, and a few in heavily laden canoes. NOTE The above explanations coincide very sound with Bedfords explanations in Chapters 19 and 20. Please use this handout along with the above chapters in your Bedford Handbook as guides in study ing for the quizzes and in eliminating fragments, run-ons, and comma splices from your sentences.