Fragments, Run-ons and Comma Splices

Can you make sense of the following paragraph?

Our teacher is pregnant and her last day of

work is on Friday she is really going to miss us.

Because she loves teaching high school students.

Although she is leaving us. She plans to come back

and visit after the baby is born, she may even take

the baby with her. We might miss her too. But our

replacement is a fun-loving, energetic teacher who

is bound to keep us busy and loving writing class.

Good-bye Mrs. Charlton!

The problem? The preceding paragraph was filled with sentence

errors -- common issues in student writing.

Sentence errors make pieces a bit more challenging to read because the pieces of information are either jumbled together, as in run-on sentences, or divided up, as in sentence fragments.

Understanding how to identify and fix these errors will make your writing stronger.

What is a sentence fragment?: Fragments are incomplete sentences

Sometimes they are missing a subject, a verb, or both

A sentence fragment is an incomplete thought

Usually, fragments are pieces of sentences that have been disconnected from the main clause.

Examples:

I need to find a new roommate. Because the one I have isn’t working out too well.

Whenever I can’t fall asleep at night.

The beautiful, calm, elegant girl who sits next to me.

Ways to correct fragments:

Add the needed information to the sentence.

Combine the fragment to the main clause.

** Sometimes fragments are used intentionally, but should be used sparsely, otherwise they lose their effect. (can add speed or suspense to a piece)

Beginning a sentence with a conjunction (and, but, or, because) is technically a fragment (because conjunctions are supposed to be used to join sentences), even though they are often used by writers.

Repair the following fragments:1. Even though Jill was a wonderful person.

2. The current gym rules are incomplete. Which is why we are currently updating them.

3. Through the air and around the bush.

4. I am going to bed early. So I can get some much needed beauty sleep.

5. When the day was finally over.

What is a run-on sentence?: When two or more sentences are joined as one,

without using proper punctuation.

These are the sentences that seem to drag on forever, and can really affect readability. (We already discussed the importance punctuation makes!)

Examples:

The boy went over to the hardware store he bought some nails he then thanked the man and left.

It was a cold day the children should have had mittens on.

Ways to correct run-ons:

Divide the sentences and insert proper punctuation.

Combine sentences properly by using a conjunction or a semicolon.

Hints for avoiding run-ons: If a clause has a subject, a verb, and makes up a complete thought, then it is a sentence and should be written as such.

Repair the following run-ons:1. Today is a really boring day the teacher would not

stop talking.

2. The snow kept falling it landed on the rooftop and covered the driveway.

3. There are only nine more school days until Christmas holidays begin we should work harder in our classes until then.

4. Skating is such good exercise that is why many skaters are good athletes.

What is a comma splice?: A run-on sentence that is punctuated with a comma (which, as

we know, is not the proper punctuation to end a sentence with).

It is called that because the comma is trying to join to sentences where it shouldn’t (when you splice cable wires, you try to get two tv’s running off of one service line – which is bad, not to mention illegal! – joining two things (the 2 tv lines) that were not intended to be joined together.)

Examples:

We got a new tv for Christmas, it is a widescreen with HD capabilities.

School is almost over, my friends and I are going to a movie to celebrate.

How to fix a comma splice:

The easiest way is to trade the comma in for better punctuation – a period.

You may also choose to join the sentences by adding either a conjunction or a semicolon.

Repair the comma splices:1. Jenny is a good friend of mine, she is becoming a

fashion designer.

2. I love chocolate, it is my absolute favourite snack, even though too much of it can be a bad thing.

3. When I came home, my dog met me at the door, I gave her a treat for being so sweet.

4. We have lots of snow at our place, you can come and take all you want, we are giving it away for free.

Decide whether each sentence below is a fragment, run-on, comma splice, or correct. Make proper changes so all are complete sentences.

1. Mona is a good friend of mine, she is kind and very funny.

2. When I got home from school yesterday.

3. Thomas laughed.

4. JD is gone to Australia I wish I could fit in his suitcase because I love the warm weather.

5. I miss summer, when will it ever return?

6. Although my dog is a good companion.

7. The tall and slender girl who lives down the street.

8. After school, I think I will have a nap.

9. Because I said so.

10. Class goes by very quickly some days others seem to drag on forever I wonder why that is?

Writer’s Workshop Editing Read your writer’s workshop piece, several times, if

necessary, and correct the following conventional errors. If you have trouble locating them in your own piece, swap papers with a peer.

Sentence Errors (fragments, run-ons, comma splices)

Paragraphing (each with its own event/topic/idea and proper indentation)

Punctuation (beginnings of sentences, proper nouns, “I”)

Spelling

Grammar (word usage, verb tense)

Look for any places where the writing just doesn’t sound right, and find ways to repair it.