1. Sentence Fragments and Run-Ons
Making sure your sentences are clear to your readers

2. Run-on sentences and fragments
Run-on sentence: two or more sentences capitalized and punctuated as if they were one.
Fused sentences: two or more grammatically complete thoughts with no separating punctuation.
Comma Splices: two main clauses linked with only a comma
Examples
Fused: Columbus gazed upon the vast Atlantic his mind was filled with apprehension.
Splice: Columbus gazed upon the vast Atlantic, his mind was filled with apprehension.

3. Correcting Comma Splices
Connect main clauses with a coordinating conjunction.
Columbus gazed upon the vast Atlantic, and his mind was filled with apprehension.
Replace the comma with a semicolon.
Columbus gazed upon the vast Atlantic; his mind was filled with apprehension.
Make a separate sentence of each main clause.
Columbus gazed upon the Atlantic. His mind was filled with apprehension.
Change one of the main clauses to a subordinate one.
When Columbus gazed upon the Atlantic, his mind was filled with apprehension.

4. Sentence Fragments
Fragment: lacks one of the requirements for a complete sentence but is punctuated as a complete sentence.
Has a subject
Has a finite verb
Expresses a complete thought
A complete sentence must have at least one independent clause.
Examples:
On a cold wintry night in March.
Because it was a cold wintry night in March.
On a cold wintry night in March my friend.