Run-On Sentence Fragment

Sentence Fragments A sentence fragment is a word group that does not have all the basic parts of a complete sentence and does not express a complete thought. To find out whether you have written a complete sentence or a sentence fragment, you can use a simple, three part test:

Sentence Fragments 1. Does the group of words have a subject? 2. Does it have a verb? 3. Does it express a complete thought?

Sentence Fragments Fragment: Is a great tennis player. The subject is missing. Who was a great tennis player? Sentence: Roger Federer is a great tennis player.

Sentence Fragments Fragment: Roger Federer many awards and tennis championships The verb is missing. What has Roger Federer done? Sentence: Roger Federer has won many awards and tennis championships.

Sentence Fragments Fragment: Because Federer wanted to help young tennis players. This group of words has a subject and a verb, but it doesn’t express a complete thought. What happened because Federer wanted to help young tennis players?

Run-On Sentence Rules A sentence should express a complete thought. Each complete thought in your writing should come to a full stop. A run on sentence is two or more complete sentences run together as one.

Run-On Sentence Rules There are two kind of run-ons. In a fused sentence, the sentences have no punctuation at all between them.

Run-On Sentence Rules Run-On: Jeremiah moved here from Israel he is my best friend. Correct: Jeremiah moved here from Israel. He is my best friend.

Run-On Sentence Rules The second kind of run-on is called a comma splice. Two sentences linked together with only a comma to separate them.

Run-On Sentence Rules Run-On: Jeremiah joined the school orchestra, he plays the violin. Correct: Jeremiah joined the school orchestra. He plays the violin.

Run-On Sentence Corrections To revise run-on sentences, you can always make two separate sentences. But if the two thoughts are related and are equal to one another in importance, you may want to make a compound sentence.

Run-On Sentence Corrections The Delaware River is in eastern Pennsylvania the Ohio River is in western Pennsylvania. (fused) The Delaware River is in eastern Pennsylvania, the Ohio River is in western Pennsylvania. (comma splice)

Run-On Sentence Corrections Use a comma and a coordinating conjunction (such as and, but, or, nor, so, for, yet). Corrected: The Delaware River is in eastern Pennsylvania, and the Ohio River is in western Pennsylvania.

Run-On Sentence Corrections 2. Use a semicolon. Corrected: The Delaware River is in eastern Pennsylvania; the Ohio River is in western Pennsylvania.

Run-On Sentence Corrections Use a semicolon and a word such as therefore, instead, meanwhile, still, also, nevertheless, or however. These words are called conjunctive adverbs. Follow a conjunctive adverb with a comma.

Run-On Sentence Corrections 3. Use a semicolon and a word such as therefore, instead, meanwhile, still, also, nevertheless, or however. Corrected: The Delaware River is in eastern Pennsylvania; however, the Ohio River is in western Pennsylvania.

Practice Sentences Reiko Amato designed the cover for our yearbook the design won an award presented by the Houston Art League. (use a semicolon)

Delaware is one of the smallest states, Rhode Island is even smaller.

The Andes Mountains are in South America, the Alps are in Europe.

Practice Sentences We wanted to attend your dress rehearsal, we had to go to a late session of soccer practice. (use a semicolon and conjunctive adverb)

Practice Sentences Their house has an enormous attic filled with boxes treasures from the past are inside each box. (split into two sentences)

Practice Sentences His older brother is coming home for Thanksgiving, his younger brother is, too. (use a coordinating conjunction)