1. Sentence Fragments and Run-On Sentences

2. “Don’t Break My Heart……”
Avoiding sentence fragments, run-on sentences, and commas splices is VERY important in academic writing.
While famous writers may sometimes use sentence fragments and run-on sentences to produce certain effects, fragments and run-on sentences should be avoided in academic coursework.

3. Sentence Fragments
A sentence fragment is a group of words intended to be a sentence. However, it may be lacking a subject, a verb, or both.
A sentence must have a subject, must have a verb, and must be a complete thought.
Writing a sentence fragment is a lot like wearing a shirt with no pants!! You need both to make a complete outfit!

4. Sentence Fragments Went on a vacation to Italy. Incorrect
This is a sentence fragment because there is no subject. Who went on a vacation?
Lea went on a vacation to Italy. Correct
In his gymnastics class, Stephen. Incorrect
This is a sentence fragment because there is no verb. What did Stephen do?
In his gymnastics class, Stephen scored a perfect ten. Correct

5. Sentence Fragments When Kathleen gave advice. Incorrect
This is a subordinate clause and must be joined to an independent clause. There is a subject and a verb in this clause, but it does not express a complete thought.
When Kathleen gave advice, I made sure to take notes. Correct

6. We’ve got to put a stop to this!
Have you ever talked to a
person who just goes on
and on and on?
A run-on sentence occurs
when two independent clauses are joined incorrectly
with no punctuation or the wrong punctuation.
There are two types of run-on sentences.
Fused sentences
Comma splices

7. Run-on Sentences Fused sentences occur when two
sentences are combined with no punctuation.
Brooke has a Chihuahua named Cotter Monica has two Chihuahuas named Taco and Paco. Incorrect
Brooke has a Chihuahua named Cotter, and Monica has two Chihuahuas named Taco and Paco. Correct

8. Run-on Sentences
A comma splice occurs when two sentences are incorrectly joined by a comma and no coordinating conjunction.
Katherine likes to rap catchy lyrics on the way to work, Donald is a poet who writes rap lyrics. Incorrect
Katherine likes to rap catchy lyrics on the way to work; Donald is a poet who writes rap lyrics. Correct

9. Revising Run-on Sentences
There are four ways to revise run-on sentences.
Separate the sentences
Add a comma and a coordinating conjunction
Add a semicolon or a semicolon and conjunctive adverb
Restructure the sentence

10. Revising Run-on Sentences
Separate the sentences.
Michelle went shopping she bought all of the cute dresses in the store. Incorrect
Michelle went shopping. She bought all
of the cute dresses in the store. Correct
Add a comma and a coordinating conjunction.
Sonya edits many papers she needs to plant a forest to replenish the trees she has killed. Incorrect
Sonya edits many papers, so she needs to plant a forest to replenish the trees she has killed. Correct

11. Revising Run-on Sentences
Add a semicolon
Cassie is a math guru she shares her vast knowledge. Incorrect
Cassie is a math guru; she
shares her vast knowledge. Correct
or a semicolon with a conjunctive adverb.
Wendy is our fearless leader she has our backs. Incorrect
Wendy is our fearless leader; therefore,
she has our backs. Correct

12. Revising Run-on Sentences
Restructure the sentence.
Suzanne does not want to hurt writers’
feelings she just tells the truth. Incorrect
Even though she tells the truth,
Suzanne does not want to hurt writers’ feelings. Correct
Josh is never wrong he is mistaken. Incorrect
Though Josh is mistaken,
he is never wrong. Correct

13. “Don’t break my heart….”
Use these rules and examples to avoid sentence fragments, run-on sentences, and comma splices in your writing.