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Grammar - Common Sentence Errors

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    Study Guide Grammar – Common Sentence Errors 1. Recognizing Common Sentence Errors Once you know what a sentence is, the next step is learning what works and what doesn’t . This will help you spot mistakes and improve your writing. 1. Watch Out for Run - On Sentences and Fragments • Run - on sentences happen when two or more complete ideas are joined without proper punctuation. • Fragments are incomplete sentences — they’re missing a subject, a predicate, or both. Knowing how a complete sentence is built helps you avoid these mistakes . 2. Pay Attention to Sentence Details Some errors are trickier and need you to think carefully about how words work together: • Subject - predicate agreement : Make sure the subject and verb match in number (singular/plural). • Misplaced modifiers : Place descriptive words or phrases near the words they describe. • Faulty parallelism : Keep similar ideas in the same grammatical form. • Style problems : Watch for awkward or unclear phrasing. 3. Become a Critical Reviewer By paying attention to these details in your own writing, you’ll be able to catch and fix mistakes before anyone else sees them. Developing this skill will make your sentences clearer, stronger, and easier to read . 2. Run - On Sentences 2.1 What Is a Run - On Sentence? A run - on sentence happens when two or more independent clauses are joined together without the correct punctuation.

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    Study Guide An independent clause is a complete sentence. It has a subject and a verb, and it expresses a complete thought. When an independent clause stands alone, it should end with a period , question mark , or exclamation mark . 2.2 How to Correctly Join Independent Clauses If you want to connect independent clauses, you have only a few correct options: 1. Keep Them Separate The simplest solution is to make them two sentences. Correct: He drove off in the Mercedes. Erica watched him go. Each sentence ends properly with a period. 2. Use a Semicolon A semicolon (;) can join two closely related independent clauses. Correct: He drove off in the Mercedes; Erica watched him go. 3. Use a Comma + Coordinating Conjunction You can also join independent clauses with a comma followed by a coordinating conjunction . The seven coordinating conjunctions are easy to remember with the acronym FANBOYS : for, and, nor, but, or, so, yet Correct: He drove off in the Mercedes, and Erica watched him go.

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    Study Guide 2.3 What Not to Do: The Comma Splice Using a comma alone to join independent clauses is incorrect. This mistake is called a comma splice , and it creates a run - on sentence. Incorrect: He drove off in the Mercedes, Erica watched him go. A comma by itself is not strong enough to join complete sentences. 2.4 Run - Ons with Conjunctive (Sentence) Adverbs Some words look like coordinating conjunctions, but they are not. Words like however , nevertheless , and for example are called conjunctive adverbs or transitional words . These words cannot join independent clauses with just a comma. Common Conjunctive Adverbs and Transitions • however • nevertheless • therefore • for example • as a result • even so • in other words • on the contrary Remember this rule: You may join independent clauses with a comma only if the comma is followed by one of the seven coordinating conjunctions (FANBOYS). The impostors — words that look like coordinating conjunctions but are actually adverbs — are called conjunctive adverbs or sentence adverbs. The use of a comma to join a clause beginning with one of these words is common. But no matter how widespread the prac tice, it still creates a run ‐ on, and most teachers and editors won't accept it. Table 1 shows a few of the words to watch out for.

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    Study Guide Correct and Incorrect Examples Correct: Scientists were convinced by the evidence; however, the Food and Drug Administration was slow to respond. Incorrect: Scientists were convinced by the evidence, however, the Food and Drug Administration was slow to respond. Correct: The hurricane damaged the arena. Nevertheless, the game was played on schedule. Incorrect: The hurricane damaged the arena, nevertheless, the game was played on schedule.

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    Study Guide Correct: Folic acid appears to exert a protective effect. For example, one study showed that it cut the rate of neural tube defects by two - thirds. Incorrect: Folic acid appears to exert a protective effect, for example, one study showed that it cut the rate of neural tube defects by two - thirds. 2.5 When Are Run - Ons Sometimes Acceptable? The run - ons discussed so far are basic grammar errors. However, in rare cases , writers may intentionally use a run - on sentence for style or effect. This may be acceptable when: • The clauses are very short • The sentence has a clear rhythm • The tone is informal or conversational • The meaning is still easy to understand Examples of Acceptable Run - Ons Live by the sword, die by the sword. They smiled, they touched, they kissed. I hardly recognized her, she was so thin. (In this case, the word because is understood.) 3. Quiz: Run - On Sentences Question 1 Choose the CORRECT sentence.

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    Study Guide Answer Choices • He boarded the plane for Boston. The plane took off on time. • He boarded the plane for Boston; the plane took off on time. • Both a and b Correct Answer Both a and b Why This Is Correct • Both sentences are grammatically correct. • Independent clauses may be joined by a semicolon or separated into two sentences . Question 2 Choose the CORRECT sentence. Answer Choices • Sarie rode her bicycle to the market, she stopped at the café for coffee. • Sarie rode her bicycle to the market, and she stopped at the café for coffee. • Sarie rode her bicycle to the market she stopped at the café for coffee. Correct Answer Sarie rode her bicycle to the market, and she stopped at the café for coffee. Why This Is Correct • The sentence correctly joins two independent clauses. • A comma plus the coordinating conjunction and is used properly.

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    Study Guide Question 3 Choose the group of words that lists coordinating conjunctions used to join independent clauses. Answer Choices • for example, nevertheless, thus • and, but, for, nor, or, so, yet • also, besides, similarly, then Correct Answer and, but, for, nor, or, so, yet Why This Is Correct • These words are known as the FANBOYS conjunctions. • They are used to join independent clauses with a comma. Question 4 Choose the TRUE statement. Answer Choices • Independent clauses can be joined by a semicolon but not a comma. • Independent clauses can be joined by a comma only. • Independent clauses can be joined by a coordinating conjunction only. Correct Answer Independent clauses can be joined by a semicolon but not a comma. Why This Is Correct • A comma alone cannot join independent clauses. • A semicolon can join them without a conjunction.

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    Study Guide Question 5 In which example is the independent clause underlined ? Answer Choices • Her little brother ran down the street ; he was chasing the ice cream truck. • Her little brother ran down the street, and he was chasing the ice cream truck . • Both a and b Correct Answer Both a and b Why This Is Correct • Each underlined section has a subject and verb. • Both express complete thoughts, making them independent clauses. Question 6 She planned to take the train to Vancouver the railroad bridge had been damaged. One way to correct the run - on sentence above is ________ Answer Choices • She planned to take the train to Vancouver, but the railroad bridge had been damaged. • She planned to take the train to Vancouver. The railroad bridge had been damaged. • Both a and b Correct Answer Both a and b

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    Study Guide Why This Is Correct • Both options correctly separate or join the independent clauses. • Each fixes the run - on sentence. Question 7 Which example shows the INCORRECT way to join two independent clauses? Answer Choices • Engineers investigated the bridge collapse, but they couldn't agree on a cause. • Engineers investigated the bridge collapse; they couldn't agree on a cause. • Engineers investigated the bridge collapse, even so they couldn't agree on a cause. Correct Answer Engineers investigated the bridge collapse, even so they couldn't agree on a cause. Why This Is Correct • even so is not a coordinating conjunction. • A comma cannot join independent clauses without a proper conjunction. 4. Sentence Fragments 4.1 What Is a Sentence Fragment? A sentence fragment is a group of words that looks like a sentence but isn’t complete. Most fragments are: • Phrases • Subordinate (dependent) clauses • Or a combination of both

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    Study Guide Don’t judge by length. A sentence can be very short ( He jumps. ), and a fragment can be very long — even fifty words. What matters is structure, not size. 4.2 How to Recognize a Fragment At first glance, a fragment may fool you. It often: • Starts with a capital letter • Ends with a period But when you look closely, it’s missing one or more of the three things every sentence needs: 1. A subject 2. A verb 3. A complete thought If any of these are missing, the sentence is actually a fragment. 4.3 Common Types of Sentence Fragments 1. Subordinate Clauses Standing Alone Fragment: Because the mayor wanted more coverage than a single newspaper story. This is a subordinate clause . It begins with because , which means it cannot stand alone. The reader is left wondering, What happened because of this? Corrected: Because the mayor wanted more coverage than a single newspaper story, we called a press conference for all media. Tip: When you start a sentence with a subordinating word (like because, although, if, or when ), make sure an independent clause follows it. 2. Phrases Separated from a Sentence Fragment: We saw the boys standing there. Laughing and throwing cans all over the front lawn.

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