1. Identifying and Correcting Sentence Errors
Fragments and Run-Ons
Identifying and Correcting Sentence Errors

2. Fragments
Fragments look like sentences but are missing a subject or a verb, or they are put together incorrectly.
Fragment
Error
Told everyone to get out of the way.
No subject
Disposable lighter in his hand.
No verb
Before he lit the fuse.
A dependent clause by itself

3. Correcting Fragments Subjects or verbs can be added
Fragments can be joined together
All of the following are correct
With his disposable lighter in his hand, he told everyone to get out of the way. Then he lit the fuse.
Pulling out his disposable lighter, Fred told everyone to get out of the way before he lit the fuse.
He pulled out his disposable lighter. Fred told everyone to get out of the way and then he lit the fuse.

4. Run-ons
Run-ons (fused sentences) occur when clauses are joined incorrectly.
He didn’t throw the firecracker, he placed it between his legs, he wanted to put the lighter away first.
Comma splice
The fuse burned too quickly before he could throw it the explosive blew up between his legs.
Run-on

5. Four Ways to Correct Run-ons
Join the clauses with a comma and a coordinating conjunction
For, and, nor, but, or, yet, so
He wanted to put the lighter away first, so Fred placed the firecracker between his legs, and he didn’t throw it.
Join the clauses with a subordinating conjunction
Because, although, if, when, since, after
Because the fuse burned too quickly before he could throw it, the explosive blew up between his legs.

6. These are the subordinate conjunctions.
since
so [that implied], so that
than
that
though
unless
when, whenever
where, wherever, whereas
whether
while
after
although as
because
before
even though
if, even if
in order that
once
provided that

7. Four Ways to Correct Run-ons
Make the clauses into separate sentences
Fred fell down screaming when the smoke cleared we all expected to see a bloody mess.
Fred fell down screaming. The smoke cleared. We all expected to see a bloody mess.
Fred fell down screaming. When the smoke cleared, we all expected to see a bloody mess.

8. Four Ways to Correct Run-ons
Join two independent clauses with a semicolon (;)if they are closely related.
You may include a conjunctive adverb along with the semicolon:
however, for example, therefore, moreover, indeed, consequently
Fred hadn’t taped the tube properly and most of the force was released out the ends of the tube the explosion did direct some pressure against his groin.
Fred hadn’t taped the tube well and most of the force was released out the ends of the tube; however, the explosion did direct some pressure against his groin.
Notice how the sentence is punctuated