Finding and Fixing Comma Splices, Run-ons, Fragments and Parallelism Correcting Common Sentence Errors

Do you want papers with fewer red marks?

This workshop will: Help you identify common sentence errors Give you easy ways to make corrections Enable you to develop your own personal editing checklist

This workshop will NOT: Make your sentence errors disappear Guarantee “A” papers But it will help you get closer to your goal of less red, more well said

Examine the following: In addition, Obafemi Awolowo was a leader who believed that the state should offer resources for example, he introduced free primary education and free health care in the Western Region. Citizens who had worked hard over the year are being recognized with an award for their service to the nation these citizens celebrate with their leaders. Fru Ndi stood up, no matter what, and he formed a political party to challenge the dictator. Traditional dances with different colors of dressing. They will tend to find happiness if their marriage is successful, their investment they made for retirement were successful and also with their children achievement in life.

First Example In addition, Obafemi Awolowo was a leader who believed that the state should offer resources, for example, he introduced free primary education and free health care in the Western Region. Identify subjects and verbs What is the relationship? Think about ideas Why did the author believe these ideas should be connected? Identify sentence type Comma used between two independent clauses

Second Example Citizens who had worked hard over the year are being recognized with an award for their service to the nation these citizens celebrate with their leaders. Identify subjects and verbs What is the relationship? Think about ideas Why did the author believe these ideas should be connected? Identify sentence type No punctuation between clauses

Third Example Fru Ndi stood up, no matter what, and he formed a political party to challenge the dictator. Identify subjects and verbs What is the relationship? Think about ideas Why did the author believe these ideas should be connected? Identify sentence type Compound sentence

Fourth Example Traditional dances with different colors of dressing. Identify subjects and verbs What is the relationship? Think about ideas What is the author trying to explain? Identify sentence type An incomplete thought

Fifth Example They will tend to find happiness if their marriage is successful, their investment they made for retirement were successful and also with their children achievement in life. Identify conjunction Think about what is joined together Are the items joined the same? Conjunctions require parallel structure

Comma Splice Very common error Using a comma incorrectly to separate independent thoughts Commas have specific uses Link to Comma Rule power point Commas can never separate independent clauses in academic writing

Run-On Punctuation is necessary for reader to process ideas. Separating or joining independent and/or dependent clauses follows specific rules for punctuation.

Correcting Run-Ons and Comma Splices Four ways Add punctuation that separates (period [full stop], exclamation, semi-colon) Use a comma and FANBOYS Use a semi-colon and a transitional word Create a dependent clause, using appropriate punctuation

Fragment An incomplete thought Leaves the reader with a question Requires either A subject A real verb An independent clause Removal of dependent word

Parallelism Items must be the same grammatical structure Determine words that indicate parallel structureparallel structure Understand: Parts of Speech Clauses Phrases

A Subject What is a subject? Usually a noun or noun phrase Autumn The very messy room A verbal Eating lots of candy To debate A clause The woman who walks to work everyday How ever long it takes All sentences in English require a subject except commands.

A Real Verb What is a real verb? An action or feeling word that is conjugated correctly talks will have been developed Not a verbal He running down the field -ing only becomes a verb with the helping verb BE She to take classes this semester

Practice Review the following collection of words. Determine sentence type or Determine structural error If there is an error, how can you correct it?

Practice 1. This is when a friend sees you for who you are and not being hasty to judge you. 2. Telephone systems are important because they connect people. 3. A friendship should make both people in the relationship happy, both people should have fun when they spend time together, accept one another for whom they are. 4. Though human beings can clash easily when they are not acceptable to each other, which makes it hard for some people to maintain many friends. 5. Although both genders have probabilities in having common ways in expressing friendships with the same gender, but also there are still a lot of particular habits they differ from each other; communication, how they show support and intimacy.

Recognition and Correction In your own writing, be aware: Clauses and Phrases Sentence Types Avoid four common structural errors Comma Splice Run-On Fragment Faulty parallel structure

Your Own Checklist Do you ever see these markings on your papers? CSFrag RONot //

Your Own Checklist Add these to your editing checklist when revising a paragraph or essay. CS – comma splice – look at either side of the comma. Reassess punctuation. RO – run-on – find the complete thoughts; do they need to be joined together? Separate or join appropriately. Frag – fragment – you need to have a subject and a verb to have a sentence. Not // - not parallel – find the conjunction and determine part of speech, clause or phrase; change parallel items to same type of grammatical structure.

Any questions? Thanks for your attention.