Fragments and Run-Ons Grammar Mini-Lesson

A fragment is a group of words that does NOT make up a complete sentence. A complete sentence MUST include A Subject A Verb A Complete Idea A fragment is missing at least one of these key items. What is a Fragment?

Examples of Fragments Reached the campsite early. The ground muddy and wet after the storm Because the tent had a leak in it. Examples of Fragments No subject No verb Not a complete idea

How do you fix a sentence fragment? First, identify the missing piece of the fragment. Then, add that into the sentence. Examples: We reached the campsite early. The ground was muddy and wet after the storm We got soaked because the tent had a leak in it. How do you fix a sentence fragment?

A run-on is a sentence is two or more complete sentences incorrectly run together as one. Run-ons can be confusing because it’s hard to know where one idea ends and the next one begins. Examples: 1. Seahorses are actually fish they have fins and gills. 2. Some seahorses are partly transparent, you might not see them in an aquarium. Run-On Sentences

Seahorses are actually fish they have fins and gills. In this run on, there is no punctuation between the two sentences. In order to correct this problem, you have three options. 1. Correct the run-on by breaking it into two separate sentences. -Seahorses are actually fish. They have fins and gills. 2. Correct the run-on by separating the two independent clauses with a semi-colon. This works if the ideas are equally important and closely related. -Seahorses are actually fish; they have fins and gills. 3. Correct the run-on by separating the two independent clauses with a comma and a conjunction. This works if the ideas are closely related. -Seahorses are actually fish, and they have fins and gills. Lack of Punctuation

Some seahorses are partly transparent, you might not see them in an aquarium. In this example, the run-on is caused by a comma splice. A comma splice is created when two independent clauses are connected by ONLY a comma. You can fix these the same way you would any other run-on. 1. Put a period in the place of the comma (Some seahorses are partly transparent. You might not see them in an aquarium.) 2. Put a semi-colon in the place of the comma (Some seahorses are partly transparent; you might not see them in an aquarium.) 3. Put a conjunction after the comma (Some seahorses are partly transparent, and you might not see them in an aquarium.) Comma Splice