1. Which of the following are fragments?
The students, trying to graduate.
Today after school, I will do my homework.
Which has given me years of good service.

2. Which of the following are fragments?
The students, trying to graduate.
Today after school, I will do my homework.
Which has given me years of good service.

3. Which of the following are fragments?
In the summer, we always try to get outside more.
After a long, boring delay in traffic.
Because Harbor Island has beautiful pink sand beaches.

4. Which of the following are fragments?
In the summer, we always try to get outside more.
After a long, boring delay in traffic.
Because Harbor Island has beautiful pink sand beaches.

5. Fragments Find the Fragments: Dear Ms. Brown:
Please consider me as a candidate for the part-time position of administrative assistant in the marketing department. After reading your advertisement in The San Antonion Daily. I feel confident that I could make a valuable contribution to the company.

6. Fragments Find the Fragments: Dear Ms. Brown:
Please consider me as a candidate for the part-time position of administrative assistant in the marketing department. After reading your advertisement in The San Antonion Daily. I feel confident that I could make a valuable contribution to the company.

7. Fragment Find the Fragments:
I am a student at San Antonio College. Pursuing a
degree in business administration. I have completed
courses in principles of marketing, introduction to
business, managerial finance, and others that give me
the skills to qualify for the administrative assistant
position. My cumulative grade point average is 3.5.

8. Fragments Find the Fragments:
I am a student at San Antonio College. Pursuing a
degree in business administration. I have completed
courses in principles of marketing, introduction to
business, managerial finance, and others that give me
the skills to qualify for the administrative assistant
position. My cumulative grade point average is 3.5.

9. Run-ons and Comma Splices

10. What is a run-on?
A run-on is two complete sentences (also called independent clauses) joined without any punctuation.
Example:
Bernard loved his part-time job at the local newspaper there was one problem.

11. What is a comma splice?
A comma splice is two complete sentences (or independent clauses) joined by only a comma.
Example:
Nearly all the people who worked there had the same habit, it was a habit that had always annoyed Bernard.

12. How can you correct run-ons and comma splices?
There are four ways to correct a run-on or a comma splice:
Add a comma and a coordinating conjunction.
Add a dependent word.
Add a semicolon.
Add a period.

13. Example: Comma and FANBOYS
Comma splice: Eventually, he got to everyone in the office, one by one, the chairs were cleared of clutter.
Corrected: Eventually, he got to everyone in the office, and one by one, the chairs were cleared of clutter.

14. Bernard’s accomplishment was short-lived it
How would you add a comma and a coordinating conjunction to correct this sentence?
Bernard’s accomplishment was short-lived it
wasn’t long before each of those chairs
began to develop a fresh pile of books all
over again.

15. How would you add a comma and a coordinating conjunction to correct this sentence?
Bernard’s accomplishment was short-lived it wasn’t long before each of those chairs began to develop a fresh pile of books all over again.
(run-on)
ANSWER:
Bernard’s accomplishment was short
lived, and it wasn’t long before each of
those chairs began to develop a fresh pile
of books all over again.

16. Example: Dependent Word
Run-on: Sophia thought they got the watchdog their house was robbed recently.
Corrected: Sophia thought they got the watchdog because their house was robbed recently.

17. How would you add a dependent word to correct this sentence?
Having a dog in the neighborhood probably
made it safer for everyone the nonstop
barking was intolerable.

18. How would you add a dependent word to correct this sentence?
Having a dog in the neighborhood probably made it safer for everyone the nonstop barking was intolerable.
(run-on)
ANSWER:
Having a dog in the neighborhood
probably made it safer for everyone, even
though the nonstop barking was
intolerable.

19. Example: Semi-colon
Run-on: Bernard wanted to break this habit after all, why couldn’t a chair be used as a chair?
Corrected: Bernard wanted to break this habit; after all, why couldn’t a chair be used as a chair?

20. How would you add a semicolon to correct this sentence?
To his astonishment, everyone he asked
agreed they said they would clear everything
off their chairs.

21. How would you add a semicolon to correct this sentence?
To his astonishment, everyone he asked agreed they said they would clear everything off their chairs.
(run-on)
ANSWER:
To his astonishment, everyone he asked
agreed; they said they would clear
everything off their chairs.

22. Example: Period
Run-on: Each person had a chair next to his or her desk for visitors their visitors were not able to sit in many of those chairs.
Corrected: Each person had a chair next to his or her desk for visitors. Their visitors were not able to sit in many of those chairs.

23. How would you add a period to correct this sentence?
The reason was very simple, most people
stacked books, papers, and other stuff on
their chairs.

24. How would you add a period to correct this sentence?
The reason was very simple, most people stacked books, papers, and other stuff on their chairs.
(comma splice)
ANSWER:
The reason was very simple. Most people
stacked books, papers, and other stuff on
their chairs.

25. Use one of the four ways to correct this sentence:
Anthony was careful with money, his friends
weren’t always so financially savvy.

26. Use one of the four ways to correct this sentence:
Anthony was careful with money, his friends weren’t always so financially savvy.
(comma splice)
ANSWER:
Though Anthony was careful with
money, his friends weren’t always so
financially savvy.

27. Use one of the four ways to correct this sentence:
Jeffrey always seemed to be asking someone
for a loan Anthony assumed this didn’t
embarrass Jeffrey.

28. Use one of the four ways to correct this sentence:
Jeffrey always seemed to be asking someone for a loan, Anthony assumed this didn’t embarrass Jeffrey.
(COMMA SPLICE)
ANSWER:
Jeffrey always seemed to be asking
someone for a loan, and Anthony
assumed this didn’t embarrass Jeffrey.

29. Use one of the four ways to correct this sentence:
However, Jeffrey always repaid the money he
borrowed from Anthony, he repaid it even
after his work promotion fell through.

30. Use one of the four ways to correct this sentence:
However, Jeffrey always repaid the money he borrowed from Anthony, he repaid it even after his work promotion fell through.
(comma splice)
ANSWER:
However, Jeffrey always repaid the
money he borrowed from Anthony; he
repaid it even after his work promotion
fell through.

31. Use one of the four ways to correct this sentence:
Almost every week, Lenny spent nearly his
whole paycheck he liked to buy things like
expensive cameras, fine clothes, and designer
shoes.

32. Use one of the four ways to correct this sentence:
Almost every week, Lenny spent nearly his whole paycheck he liked to buy things like expensive cameras, fine clothes, and designer shoes.
(run-on)
ANSWER:
Almost every week, Lenny spent nearly
his whole paycheck. He liked to buy
things like expensive cameras, fine
clothes, and designer shoes.

33. Use one of the four ways to correct this sentence:
As for himself, Anthony had a few tricks he
had learned for saving money one of them
was throwing all of his small change into a
jar.

34. Use one of the four ways to correct this sentence:
As for himself, Anthony had a few tricks he had learned for saving money one of them was throwing all of his small change into a jar.
(run-on)
ANSWER:
As for himself, Anthony had a few tricks
he had learned for saving money; one of
them was throwing all of his small
change into a jar.