Sentence Fragments and Run-on Sentences are the WORST
OFFENDERS when it comes to writing.
If you can practice these two concepts and MASTER THEM,
your writing will improve significantly!
INDEPENDENT CLAUSE
Can stand alone as a complete sentence
COMPLETE SENTENCE
Subject + verb + complete thought
Run on Sentence – two or more sentences run together without punctuation.
TYPES OF RUN-ON’S
1. Fused sentence
My alarm clock went off I woke up.
(This is the way we talk! We run all of our words together and create fused run-on sentences!
SLOW DOWN! You cannot WRITE the way you SPEAK!)
2. Comma splice
My alarm clock went off, I woke up.
(Using a comma here is incorrect! If there is an independent clause on both sides of a comma,
then you need to use a semi-colon!)
Corrected: My alarm clock went off; I woke up.
CORRECTING RUN-ON’S
1. Period and capital letter
My alarm clock went off I woke up.
Corrected: My alarm clock went off. I woke up.
2. Comma and FANBOYS (coordinating conjunction)
My alarm clock went off I woke up.
Corrected: My alarm clock went off, so I woke up.
3. Semicolon
My alarm clock went off I woke up.
Corrected: My alarm clock went off; I woke up.
4. Semicolon and joining word
My alarm clock went off I woke up.
Corrected: My alarm clock went off; then, I woke up.
5. Dependent word
My alarm clock went off I woke up.
Corrected: My alarm clock went off after I woke up.
Corrected: I woke up because my alarm clock went off.
(REMEMBER: when you use a DEPENDENT WORD in the middle of the sentence, DO NOT use
a comma!)
Sentence Fragment – an incomplete sentence
TYPES OF FRAGMENTS
1. Dependent clause
Since yesterday.
Corrected: I have not eaten since yesterday.
2. Verbal phrase: to
-ing
-ed
-en
Infinitive: to walk, to sleep, to study, to read
He went to the store. To buy bread.
Corrected: He went to the store to buy bread.
The graduates hugged their proud parents. Smiling and carrying diplomas.
Corrected: Smiling and carrying diplomas, the graduates hugged their proud parents.
The kids made it to school. Driven by their mom.
Corrected: The kids were driven to school by their mom.
3. Missing subject
He went to bed early. Fell right to sleep.
Corrected: He went to bed early and fell right to sleep.
Corrected: He went to bed early. He fell right to sleep.
4. Example and exception
Jamie never seems to be able to hold a job. In spite of the technical expertise she brings to each
position.
Corrected: Jamie never seems to be able to hold a job in spite of the technical expertise she
brings to each position.
The top model said that she had flaws in her appearance just like anyone else. For example, a
tiny gap between her two front teeth.
Corrected: The top model said that she had flaws in her appearance just like anyone else; for
example, she had a tiny gap between her two front teeth.
Due to the fact I can’t work the computer.
Corrected: Due to the fact I can’t work the computer, I could not get the work done.
5. Prepositional phrase
He put his book down. On the table.
Corrected: He put his book down on the table.