1. Fragments vs. Run-On Sentences Claire Brownstone

2. Fragments A sentence fragment is an incomplete sentence. They lack either a subject or a verb or both. The most common mistake students make is with dependent clauses.

3. Dependent Clauses Dependent clauses have a subject and a verb, so they look complete, but do not express a complete thought. Example: If you want to go with me. What makes this sentence incomplete is the first word: If. Words like if, because, after, and when are subordinating conjunctions. They join two sentences, make one sentence dependent on another, and indicate a logical relationship.

4. How To Fix Fragments Remember that every dependent clause needs to be attached to an independent clause. Scan sentences for subject, verb, and complete thought. If you find a subordinating conjunction, identify the whole dependent clause and attach it to an independent clause.

5. Run-On Sentences You are making a run-on when you put two complete sentences (a subject and its predicate and another subject and its predicate) together in one sentence without separating them properly. Ex: My favorite Mediterranean spread is hummus it is very garlicky. Just because it is a long sentence does not mean it is a run-on!

6. Fixing Run-Ons To find run-ons, form the sentence into a question Ex: Is my favorite Mediterranean spread hummus is it very garlicky? Doesn’t work, does it? You must form it into two separate questions. Fix run-ons using semicolons, commas and coordinating conjunctions (and, but, yet), subordinating conjunctions, or dashes. You can also make two separate sentences. NEVER use just a comma, or you end up with a comma splice. Ex: My favorite Mediterranean spread is hummus, it is very garlicky.