WHAT IS A COMMA SPLICE?

Quite simply, a comma splice is the attempt to join two independent clauses with a

comma, but without a coordinator.independent clause (,) independent clause (,)

independent clause…

Rf: by Tina Blue

August 11, 2000

1-) COMMA SPLICE:  I did not eat enough this evening, I feel hungry. CORRECTIONS: I did not eat enough this evening[.] I feel hungry. Note: To separate two independent clauses, you must use some form of end-stop punctuation. 2-) COMMA SPLICE: The competition is very hard, my friend will win.CORRECTIONS: The competition is very hard; however, my friend will win.Note: To join two independent clauses, you must use a coordinator.

3-) COMMA SPLICE: I had pain in my shoulder, I did not help to my mother to pick up the salon. CORRECTIONS: I had pain in my shoulder, so I did not help to my mother to pick up the salon. Note: To join two independent clauses, you must use a coordinator.4-) COMMA SPLICE: My brother cut his carpus, my brother did not cry.CORRECTIONS: My brother cut his carpus; he did not cry.Note: To join two independent clauses, you must use a coordinator.

5-) COMMA SPLICE: I adopted a very cute new puppy, he ate my very expensive shoes.CORRECTIONS: I adopted a very cute new puppy, but he ate my very expensive shoes. Note: To join two independent clauses, you must use a coordinator.6-) COMMA SPLICE: He said he would be late, he arrived on time.CORRECTIONS: He said he would be late, yet he arrived on time.Note: To join two independent clauses, you must use a coordinator.

7-) COMMA SPLICE: She wasn’t needed, she left. CORRECTIONS: She wasn’t needed, so she leftNote: To join two independent clauses, you must use a coordinator.8-) COMMA SPLICE: I got up early this morning, I’m sleepy.CORRECTIONS: I got up early this morning[;] I’m sleepy.Note: To separate two independent clauses, you must use some form of end-stop punctuation.

9-) COMMA SPLICE: My brother cut his carpus, my brother did not cry.CORRECTIONS: My brother cut his carpus, but he did not cry.Note: To join two independent clauses, you must use a coordinator.10-) COMMA SPLICE: He was a very smart student, he could not pass the exam.CORRECTIONS: He was a very smart student; however, he could not pass the exam.Note: To join two independent clauses, you must use a coordinator.

RUN-ON SENTENCE

Definition: In run-on sentence (Fused Sentence), two or more independent clauses ‘‘run together’’ with no punctuation.

- Independent clause+independent clause+independent clause

Rf: The Random House Handbook, Fourth Edition.

1-) RUN-ON SENTENCE: Ismail loved swimming in the neighbor’s pool he felt the water too cold.CORRECTIONS: Run-on Sentence: Ismail loved swimming in the neighbor’s pool[.] He felt the water too cold.2-) RUN-ON SENTENCE: I wanted to do study yesterday evening I had headache because of too much noise which came from the street. CORRECTIONS: I wanted to do study yesterday evening[.] I had headache because of too much noise which came from the street. Note: Write the two independent clauses as separate sentences using periods.

3-) RUN-ON SENTENCE: Tony is dishonest he steals hubcaps for a living.CORRECTIONS: Tony is dishonest[;]he steals hubcaps for a living.4-) RUN-ON SENTENCE: Ismail loved swimming in the neighbor’s pool he felt the water too cold.CORRECTIONS: Run-on Sentence: Ismail loved swimming in the neighbor’s pool[;] he felt the water too cold.Note: Use a semicolon to separate the two independent clauses.

5-) RUN-ON SENTENCE: Ismail loved swimming in the neighbor’s pool he felt the water too cold.CORRECTIONS: Ismail loved swimming in the neighbor’s pool, but he felt the water too cold.6-) RUN-ON SENTENCE: Tony is dishonest he steals hubcaps for a living.CORRECTIONS: Tony is dishonest, so he steals hubcaps for a living.Note: Use a comma and any one of the following connecting words: so, for, or, but, nor, and, yet when for means becausewhen so means as a result

7-) RUN-ON SENTENCE: Ismail loved swimming in the neighbor’s pool he felt the water too cold.CORRECTIONS: Ismail loved swimming in the neighbor’s pool; however, he felt the water too cold.8-) RUN-ON SENTENCE: Tony is dishonest he steals hubcaps for a living.CORRECTIONS: Tony is dishonest; therefore, he steals hubcaps for a living.Note: Use a semicolon and one of the following words: therefore, thus, however, consequently,furthermore, also, nevertheless

9-) RUN-ON SENTENCE: The Lord of the Rings is my favorite movie I love eating popcorn.CORRECTIONS: The Lord of the Rings is my favorite movie[.] I love eating popcorn.Write the two independent clauses as separate sentences using periods.10-) RUN-ON SENTENCE: My car broke down I need to buy a new one.CORRECTIONS: My car broke down, so I need to buy a new one.Note: Use a comma and any one of the following connecting words: so, for, or, but, nor, and, yet

NON-PARALLEL SENTENCE

Definition: A list of word, phrases, or clauses should be in the same grammatical form. When the items in the list are not grammatically parallel, the error is called non-parallel structure (or faulty parallelism).

http://www.ryerson.ca/learningsuccess/resources/unit9.pdf

1-) NON-PARALLEL SENTENCE: I like hiking, swimming, and to ride a bicycle.CORRECTIONS: I like hiking, swimming, and riding a bicycle.Note: Use the same form of comparison words within a sentence.2-) NON-PARALLEL SENTENCE: She was ignorance and greedy.CORRECTIONS: She was ignorant and greedy.Note: Keep nouns, adjectives and verbs constant in a descriptive list; don't mix them.

3-) NON-PARALLEL SENTENCE: The dictionary can be used for these purposes: to find word meanings, pronunciations, correct spellings, and looking up irregular verbsCORRECTIONS: The dictionary can be used for these purposes: to find word meanings, pronunciations, correct spellings, and irregular verbs.Note: Use the same form of comparison words within a sentence4-) NON-PARALLEL SENTENCE:CORRECTIONS:

5-) NON-PARALLEL SENTENCE: My dog has warm fur, a nose that is wet, and a fluffy tail.CORRECTIONS: My dog has warm fur, a wet nose, and a fluffy tail.Note: Use the same form of comparison words within a sentence.6-) NON-PARALLEL SENTENCE: Esra liked to study, to research, and enjoyed reading.CORRECTIONS: Esra liked to study, to research, and to read.Note: This sentence corrected by making sure that an infinitive ( ’’to’’ + a verb ) is used for each item in the list.

7-) NON-PARALLEL SENTENCE: I heard about her novel, her job and she was going to town.CORRECTIONS: I heard about her novel, her job and her trip to town.Note: Instead of 2 nouns and an adverbial clause, the correct version has its list of 3 nouns.8-) NON-PARALLEL SENTENCE: Deniz’s details of the events were recounted correct and clearly.CORRECTIONS: Deniz’s details of the events were recounted correctly and clearly.

9-) NON-PARALLEL SENTENCE: The production manager was asked to write his report quickly, accurately, and in a detailed.CORRECTIONS:The production manager was asked to write his report quickly, accurately, and thoroughly.Note: Use the same form of comparison words within a sentence.10-) NON-PARALLEL SENTENCE:Listening to his constant jabbering is a test of endurance and being patient.CORRECTIONS: Listening to his constant jabbering is a test of endurance and patience.

SENTENCE FRAGMENTSDefinition: A sentence fragment fails to be a sentence in the sense that it cannot stand by itself. It does not contain even one independent clause. There are several reasons why a group of words may seem to act like a sentence but not have the wherewithal to make it as a complete thought. How to Spot a FragmentPut each phrase through a simple test: Does it have a verb? Does it have a subject? Can the phrase make sense standing alone (is it a

dependent clause or phrase)? Rf:Capital Community College Foundation

1-) SENTENCE FRAGMENT: Ran over there. CORRECTIONS: My cat ran over there.Note: The fragment sentence is missing a subject.

2-) SENTENCE FRAGMENT: Since you were not home, I left a note at your door.CORRECTIONS: I left a note at your door since you were not home.Note: The fragment is not able to stand on its own. We completed the sentence by adding more information - independent clause.

3-) SENTENCE FRAGMENT: We are going to play tennis outside today. Unless it rains. CORRECTIONS: We are going to play tennis outside today, unless it rains." or "Unless it rains, we will play tennis today.Note: "Unless it rains" makes no sense by itself, so it should be attached to a sentence.4-) SENTENCE FRAGMENT: Samet is.CORRECTIONS: Samet is a student.Note: The fragment sentence is missing an object.

5-) SENTENCE FRAGMENT: Because he lost his car keys, he had to catch the bus home.CORRECTIONS: He had to catch the bus home because he lost his car keys.Note: The fragment is not able to stand on its own. We completed the sentence by adding more information - independent clause. 6-) SENTENCE FRAGMENT: After they finished dinner, they went to the movies.CORRECTIONS: They went to the movies after they finished dinner.Note: The fragment is not able to stand on its own. We completed the sentence by adding more information - independent clause.

7-) SENTENCE FRAGMENT: Opened the window.CORRECTIONS: The girl opened the window.Note: We can correct the fragment with adding a subject.8-) SENTENCE FRAGMENT: The statue standing by the doorway.CORRECTIONS: The statue is standing by the doorway.Note: Add a helping verb

9-) SENTENCE FRAGMENT: The sound from the room. CORRECTIONS: The sound from the room was loud.Note: The predicate is missing in the fragment sentence.10-) SENTENCE FRAGMENT: After Hakan bought the biology book.CORRECTIONS: After Hakan bought the biology book, he began studying for her exam.Note: The fragment is not able to stand on its own. We completed the sentence by adding more information - independent clause.

REFERENCES By Richard Nordquist, About.com Guide (run-on sentence) http://

grammar.yourdictionary.com/sentences/run-on-sentences.html

by Tina Blue August 11, 2000http://www.ingilizcecin.com/doc/1804/run-on-sentences-fused-sentence-comma-splice-errors-ppt.html

http://www.gmc.edu/students/arc/documents/CommonSentenceErrors.pdf

staff@myenglishteacher.net   By Christopher Cross, eHow Contributor (How to Avoid

Nonparallel Sentences) http://

library.bethel.edu/class/tutorials/writ-cit/Parallelism_in_Sentences.pdf

http://enguistic.blogspot.com/2006/01/common-error-4-non-parallel.html

http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/fragments.htm