1 Fragments, Comma Splices, and Fused Sentences The major mistakes in English grammar! TCTC Writing Center Prepared by Jennifer Higgins-Spiers July 2007

2 Fragments Fragments are “incomplete” sentences. They have a subject and a verb but no complete thought. Fragments are “incomplete” sentences. They have a subject and a verb but no complete thought. Fragments look like sentences; sometimes they are even punctuated like sentences. Don’t let them fool you! Don’t let them give you a bad grade! Fragments look like sentences; sometimes they are even punctuated like sentences. Don’t let them fool you! Don’t let them give you a bad grade!

3 Examples of fragments When the party started. When the party started. As soon as they get here. As soon as they get here. Whenever the traffic gets heavy. Whenever the traffic gets heavy. To find a job in another city. To find a job in another city. Running laps every day. Running laps every day. Over the hill and around the corner. Over the hill and around the corner. Because Sandra is feeling ill. Because Sandra is feeling ill.

4 How to fix fragments: add a complete thought When the party started. When the party started. As soon as they get here. As soon as they get here. Whenever the traffic gets heavy. Whenever the traffic gets heavy. To find a job in another city. To find a job in another city. Running laps every day. Running laps every day. Over the hill and around the corner. Over the hill and around the corner. Because Sandra is feeling ill. Because Sandra is feeling ill. When the party started, everybody was dancing. When the party started, everybody was dancing. As soon as they get here, we will go out to eat. As soon as they get here, we will go out to eat. Whenever the traffic gets heavy, I get frustrated. Whenever the traffic gets heavy, I get frustrated. To find a job in another city is very difficult. To find a job in another city is very difficult. Running laps every day is good for your health. Running laps every day is good for your health. Her house is over the hill and around the corner. Her house is over the hill and around the corner. Because Sandra is feeling ill, she won’t be able to play in the game tonight. Because Sandra is feeling ill, she won’t be able to play in the game tonight.

5 Comma splices A comma splice is a comma that joins two independent clauses. A comma splice is a comma that joins two independent clauses. Many students seem to think that a comma splice is a misplaced comma. Other students believe that a comma splice is a sentence with too many commas. This is not always true! Many students seem to think that a comma splice is a misplaced comma. Other students believe that a comma splice is a sentence with too many commas. This is not always true! A comma has many jobs; however, one job that the comma is NOT responsible for is to combine two independent clauses. A comma has many jobs; however, one job that the comma is NOT responsible for is to combine two independent clauses.

6 Examples of comma splices Pat wanted to go to Mi Pueblo, Celeste wanted to go to Pancho’s. Pat wanted to go to Mi Pueblo, Celeste wanted to go to Pancho’s. Matt is excited, he and his wife are having a baby. Matt is excited, he and his wife are having a baby. Robin is the chair of the English department, she is the person to ask if you have any questions. Robin is the chair of the English department, she is the person to ask if you have any questions. See how the comma joins two independent clauses in these examples? These are comma catastrophes. Don’t do this.

7 How to fix those comma splices Since you have a comma joining two independent clauses, you can do the following things: Add a coordinating conjunction after the comma. Add a coordinating conjunction after the comma. Add a subordinating conjunction in the beginning of the first independent clause. Add a subordinating conjunction in the beginning of the first independent clause. Take away the comma and replace it with a period. Take away the comma and replace it with a period. Take away the comma and replace it with a semicolon. Take away the comma and replace it with a semicolon. Take away the comma and replace it with a subordinating conjunction. Take away the comma and replace it with a subordinating conjunction.

8 Fixing the errors Bad sentences: Pat wanted to go to Mi Pueblo, Celeste wanted to go to Pancho’s. Pat wanted to go to Mi Pueblo, Celeste wanted to go to Pancho’s. Matt is excited, he and his wife are having a baby. Matt is excited, he and his wife are having a baby. Robin is the chair of the English department, she is the person to ask if you have any questions Robin is the chair of the English department, she is the person to ask if you have any questions Good sentences: Pat wanted to go to Mi Pueblo, but Celeste wanted to go to Panchos. Pat wanted to go to Mi Pueblo, but Celeste wanted to go to Panchos. Matt is excited. He and his wife are having a baby. Matt is excited. He and his wife are having a baby. Since Robin is the chair of the English department, she is the person to ask if you have any questions. Since Robin is the chair of the English department, she is the person to ask if you have any questions. Note: There are many ways to correct a sentence.

9 Fused sentences (otherwise known as run-on sentences) If you join TWO independent clauses with NO punctuation mark or connecting idea, you have created a fused/run-on sentence. If you join TWO independent clauses with NO punctuation mark or connecting idea, you have created a fused/run-on sentence. Fused/run-on sentences cause great confusion to your readers. Fused/run-on sentences cause great confusion to your readers. This error generally occurs when the writer tries to cram too many ideas into one sentence. This error generally occurs when the writer tries to cram too many ideas into one sentence. Organize your thoughts so that this error does not happen! Organize your thoughts so that this error does not happen!

10 Examples of fused/run-on sentences Louise didn’t feel like coming to work she called Robin pretending to be sick. Louise didn’t feel like coming to work she called Robin pretending to be sick. Geoff is a Hokie Matt is a Tiger. Geoff is a Hokie Matt is a Tiger. Pat and Celeste teach English 101 they read hundreds of papers a semester. Pat and Celeste teach English 101 they read hundreds of papers a semester. Notice how these sentences have two ideas crammed into one? While having many ideas in one sentence is great, it is NOT great to combine sentences this way.

11 How to fix fused/run-on sentences Add a period between the two independent clauses. Add a period between the two independent clauses. Add a semi-colon between the two independent clauses. Add a semi-colon between the two independent clauses. Add a comma and a coordinating conjunction between the two independent clauses. Add a comma and a coordinating conjunction between the two independent clauses. Add a subordinating conjunction between the two independent clauses. Add a subordinating conjunction between the two independent clauses. Add a subordinating conjunction in the beginning of the sentence, and add a comma between the two independent clauses. Add a subordinating conjunction in the beginning of the sentence, and add a comma between the two independent clauses.

12 Fixing the errors Bad Sentences Louise didn’t feel like coming to work she called Robin pretending to be sick. Louise didn’t feel like coming to work she called Robin pretending to be sick. Geoff is a Hokie Matt is a Tiger. Geoff is a Hokie Matt is a Tiger. Pat and Celeste teach English 101 they read hundreds of papers a semester. Pat and Celeste teach English 101 they read hundreds of papers a semester. Good Sentences Because Louise didn’t feel like coming to work, she called Robin pretending to be sick. Because Louise didn’t feel like coming to work, she called Robin pretending to be sick. Geoff is a Hokie, and Matt is a Tiger. Geoff is a Hokie, and Matt is a Tiger. Pat and Celeste teach English 101; they read hundreds of papers a semester. Pat and Celeste teach English 101; they read hundreds of papers a semester.

13 Dilemma?! Do you NOT know how to tell if you made these monstrous errors? This is what you can do: PROOFREAD! 1) Do all of your sentences have subject/verbs/complete thoughts? 2)Look at your commas. Are they all in the right place? Do they, at ANY TIME, combine TWO sentences? 3) Do your sentences make sense? Are they jumbled together?

14 The importance of finding these mistakes Fragments, comma splices, and fused/run-on sentences can COST you good grades. Fragments, comma splices, and fused/run-on sentences can COST you good grades. Many of these mistakes are careless, but is carelessness and laziness WORTH a bad grade? Many of these mistakes are careless, but is carelessness and laziness WORTH a bad grade? Each of these errors is basically worth a letter grade. Watch yourself! Each of these errors is basically worth a letter grade. Watch yourself!