Combined Fragments, Run-ons, and Comma Splices
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Definition:
What is a fragment?
A fragment is an incomplete sentence. It does not express a complete
thought. A group of words must not depend on the sentence before it or after
it to provide a complete idea.
What is a run-on?
A run-on is two or more sentences written as one with no punctuation
between the two sentences. They join too much information, usually two
independent clauses, without a conjunction or correct punctuation.
What is a comma splice?
A comma splice is two sentences written with a comma separating the two
sentences. A comma by itself cannot join two sentences. Doing so creates a
comma splice.
Note: The only difference between a fused sentence and a commas splice is the
location, or lack of a comma.
FRAGMENTS OCCUR IN WRITING WHEN WORD GROUPS ARE
INCOMPLETE.
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Combined Fragments, Run-ons, and Comma Splices
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Examples:
1.
Managed the team. (This group of words does not have a subject.)
Pop managed the team. (Pop is the subject and managed is the verb and the words
work together to make a complete thought. They work together to make a sentence.
2.
Pop managing the team. (This group of words may have a subject, Pop; however, an
“ing” verb cannot stand alone.)
Pop is managing the team. (Pop is the subject; is managing is the verb, and all the
words work together to make a sentence.)
3.
As I spoke to the class of students. (This group of words is a dependent clause, and
only an independent clause makes a complete thought.)
As I spoke to the class of students, John continued to write. (Now that dependent
clause has been attached to an independent clause, so we have a sentence.)
Run-on –
The boy was walking to the store it is where he was buying milk for his mother.
(There are too many thoughts in this sentence. One thought relates to the boy
walking to the store. The other thought relates to him buying milk. It would be
easier for the reader if the thoughts were divided into two complete
sentences.)
They said we should sing, dance, and then we decided to go to the mall.
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(Again, the sentence relates to the group singing, dancing. Suddenly, the thought
changes to the group deciding to go to the mall. There are too many thoughts
in one sentence.)
Comma
Splice –
The woman was sitting at the computer, the computer was not working. (In this
sentence, the author tries to incorporate two complete thoughts in one
sentence using a comma.)
I was in the classroom, the room had twenty computers which were not
functioning. (Again, in this sentence, there are two complete thoughts
separated by a comma.)
Techniques for repairing Fragments, Run-ons, and Comma Splices
Fragments:
When writing, you want the reader to understand your main point. Choppy sentences confuse
the reader. Phrases beginning with subordinating conjunctions are considered fragments. Below
is a list of commonly used subordinating conjunctions.
after
although
as
as if
as soon as
as though
because
before
even though
how
however
if
that
though
provided that
since
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Combined Fragments, Run-ons, and Comma Splices
so that
when
which
why
unless
whenever
while
until
where
who
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what
wherever
whoever
Solution 1: Join the dependent clause fragment with an independent clause.
Example: When I was walking. There was a big dog in the street.
Solution: When I was walking, there was a big dog in the street.
Example: Once upon a time. The boss was very mean.
Solution: Once upon a time, the boss was very mean.
Solution 2: Omit the subordinating conjunction.
Example: If I was in the mall. I wanted to shop at the Discovery Store.
Solution: I was in the mall. I wanted to shop at the Discovery Store.
Example: When I was going to school. I tripped on a small dog.
Solution: I was going to school. I tripped on a small dog.
In both of the sentences, we eliminated the coordinating conjunction to avoid having a
fragment.
Run-ons:
Run-on sentences confuse the reader because they contain too much information.
Place a period after each independent clause and capitalize the first letter in each clause.
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Combined Fragments, Run-ons, and Comma Splices
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Example: The Officer was driving he saw a black dog running across the street the kids
were playing in the field where the gardener was raking the lawn.
There are too many thoughts in one sentence. (Officer driving, black dog running,
kids playing, gardener raking)
Solution: The Officer was driving. He saw a black dog running across the street. The
kids were playing in the field where the gardener was raking the lawn.
Example: The woman was walking the man stood up and walked to the printer it was
not working.
Solution: The woman was walking. The man stood up and walked to the printer. It was
not working.
Make the sentence compound. There are two ways in which to do this.
a.
Connect the two independent clauses using a comma and a coordinating
conjunction (remember FANBOYS: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so).
Example:
English is a required course in most colleges, and a student must
pass it before he earns his degree.
b.
Connect the two independent clauses with a semicolon. A semicolon is a
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Combined Fragments, Run-ons, and Comma Splices
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stronger mark of punctuation than a comma.
Example:
English is a required course in most colleges; a student must pass it
before he earns his degree.
Remember that after the semicolon, the second independent clause begins with a small, not
capital, letter.
In either of these two methods of correction, you may want to add a transitional word to
show the relationship between the two clauses.
Example:
English is a required subject in most colleges; therefore, a student
must pass it before he earns his degree.
Rewrite the sentence as a complex sentence. This change requires the addition of
subordinating conjunction to transform one of the independent clauses into a dependent
clause.
EXAMPLE: Because English is a required course, a student must pass it before
he earns his degree.
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Combined Fragments, Run-ons, and Comma Splices
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Comma Splice:
A comma by itself cannot join two sentences. Doing so creates a comma splice.
Incorrect
Example:
1.
The clouds created a dark sky, the rain began to fall.
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:
3.
The clouds created a dark sky, and the rain began to fall.
A third option to correct the comma splice is to use a semi-colon. This punctuation
joins what could be two sentences.
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Combined Fragments, Run-ons, and Comma Splices
Correct
Example:
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The clouds created a dark sky; the rain began to fall.
CHECK TO SEE WHAT YOU HAVE LEARNED!
FRAGMENTS PRACTICE EXERCISE 1:
1.
Once upon a time.
2.
There were two wonderful people.
3.
Who were very much in love.
4.
And planning to get married.
5.
Enough is enough.
6.
The next few groups of words should deal with a new subject.
7.
Once upon a midnight clear.
8.
Just behind the dearest deer.
9.
I saw the most beautiful sight.
10.
A covey of birds in wondrous flight.
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Combined Fragments, Run-ons, and Comma Splices
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PRACTICE EXERCISE: Indicate whether the following sentences are correct by
placing a C in the blank or incorrect by placing an I in the blank. Circle the error and
indicate how it could be corrected.
COMMA SPLICES
1.
Louise has many problems, one of them is her poor grammar.
2. Michael is very involved in sports, and football is his favorite.
3. Dancing is an enjoyable activity, it is very relaxing.
4. Making new friends can be very difficult, therefore, one should meet as many people as
possible.
5. Commercials are very boring, the number of them shown during a thirty minute program
should be reduced.
SENTENCE FRAGMENTS
6. Before giving up, first try to explore your options. Which are many.
7. On my way to work today the man jogging along the road.
8. The man on the corner discovered he had to cross the street at his own risk. Since there
was not a crossing guard or a crossing light.
9. During the night in the middle of August on the hottest evening of the season.
10. Because he had no one to talk to, Chris sat alone and cried.
RUN-ONS:
11. My sister is the worst tennis player in the world because she does not practice or
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Combined Fragments, Run-ons, and Comma Splices
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concentrate on the game.
12. When Duane could not find his keys, he searched everywhere he could think he might
have lost them he was really embarrassed when he found them in his pocket.
13. She lost her job because she was never on time, and she did not fully understand how to
perform her duties.
14. Dancing is my favorite form of recreation swimming is my second.
15. He can never seem to understand directions he always confuses east and west and north
and south.
16. Janice loves her job even though her boss is not very nice she plans to work hard in hopes
of a promotion.
17. Bob got soaking wet while walking in the rain he forgot his umbrella.
18. The guests stayed until midnight even though the party was supposed to be over at ten
they were having too much fun to leave.
19. While on a shopping spree at a local mall, Louise lost her purse, and she got a parking
ticket.
20. Once while hiking in the woods Marcus found an injured baby bird he took it home and
nursed it back to health and then released it back into the wild.
COMMA SPLICES AND RUN-ONS PRACTICE EXERCISE 1:
Correct the errors by adding a period (and capital), or a semicolon (no capital), or a
comma and a conjunction (no capital). Remember that a comma alone will not do the job.
Do not take out any words.
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Combined Fragments, Run-ons, and Comma Splices
1.
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Every company demands certain things from its employees this one insists that they do a
full day's work.
2.
My bedroom's walls are very uneven they form odd angles which make hanging
wallpaper a difficult task.
3.
Alaska is usually terribly cold, however, it's one of the most beautiful places I've ever
seen.
4.
My neighbor talks about me behind my back then, when she sees me on the street, she
puts on a big smile and gives me a friendly greeting.
5.
My block is in a low crime area, the trouble we have we create ourselves.
6.
In order to study well students must be able to concentrate for example, it's hard to pay
attention while the television is showing a loud, action program.
7.
He left the pastry shop early then at noon he took the ferry to San Francisco.
8.
There were some cars in the parking lot, one of them was mine.
9.
Arranging a surprise party is hard you have to remember that people can unthinkingly
give the secret away to the guest of honor.
ANSWERS TO PRACTICE EXERCISES
Fragments Practice Exercise 1:
1.
F
6.
S
2.
S
7.
F
3.
F
8.
F
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Combined Fragments, Run-ons, and Comma Splices
4.
F
9.
S
5.
S
10.
F
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COMMA SPLICES, FRAGMENTS, AND RUN-ONS PRACTICE
EXERCISE:
1.
I Two complete sentences cannot be joined with only a comma.
2.
C
3.
I Two complete sentences cannot be joined with only a comma.
4.
I Use ;therefore, because it joins two complete sentences.
5.
I Two complete sentences cannot be joined with only a comma.
6.
I which are many is a sentence fragment.
7.
I It is a sentence fragment.
8.
I Since. . .light is a subordinate clause, not a sentence.
9.
I It is just a string of prepositional phrases.
10.
C
11.
C
12.
I them; he or them. He
13.
C
14.
I recreation; swimming or recreation. Swimming or recreation, and
swimming
15.
I directions; he or directions. He or directions because he
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Combined Fragments, Run-ons, and Comma Splices
16.
I job. Even though. . .nice, she
17.
I rain; he or rain. He or rain because he
18.
I midnight. Even though. . .at ten, they
19.
C
20.
I once. . . woods, Marcus . . . bird. He
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COMMA SPLICES AND RUN-ONS PRACTICE EXERCISE 1:
1. employees. This
employees, and this
employees; this
2. uneven. They
uneven, so they
uneven; they
3. cold; however
4. back. Then
back, and then
back; then
5. area. The
area, but the
area; the
6. concentrate; for
7. early. Then
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Combined Fragments, Run-ons, and Comma Splices
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early, and then
early; then
8. lot. One
lot, and one
lot; one
9. hard. You
hard, and you
hard; you
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