Fragments, Comma Splices, Run-Ons

Fragments Upon reviewing the Clauses and Phrases presentation, there are several kinds of fragments. Dependent Clause fragments Missing subject, verb, or both fragments Phrase fragments

Ways to Correct Fragments Add a subject, verb or both to the fragment. Combine the fragment to a related or logically ordered independent clause. Revise or reword the sentence so that it becomes a subject, verb, and a complete thought.

Dependent Clause Fragments Here are some of the common subordinating conjunctions: After If Whenever Although Since Where As Though Because Unless Whether Before Until Whereas Even though What

I. Dependent Clause fragments Remember that a dependent clause can not stand on its own. It has a subordinating conjunction at the beginning of the clause: Ex. When it is raining. (Dep. Clause frag.) How to solve the problem: Attach the dep. Clause to a related independent clause or get rid of the subordinating conjunction. Correction: When it is raining, I like to read.(notice the comma is needed when the dep. Clause begins the sentence).

Dependent Clause Con’t Correction: I like to read when it is raining. (The subordinating conjunction is now doing it’s job. The comma is not needed here.) Correction: It is raining. (Remember clauses already have a subject and main verb. The “When” creates the dependent clause.)

Most Common Dep. Clause Fragment Often, because of how we use language in conversation, people use conjunctions to begin a sentence. However in formal writing, this is not permitted. You may see examples, however in journalism, and even in creative writing. This is called creative license. (See your grammar text for acceptable fragments.)

FANBOYS Here are the conjunctions: For And Nor But Or Yet So Remember:Conjunctions join ideas

Fanboys Look at these sentences from a conversation: Ex. So I went to the store. And when I got there, I realized I forgot my wallet. So I had to drive back home. But when I drove back to the store, it was closed. This conversation is laced with all sorts of conjunctions at the beginning of each sentence.

Most Common Fragment Con’t Since conjunctions join ideas, they cannot do their job if they are at the front of the sentence. Notice the options to delete or combine sentences. Correction: So I went to the store. And , and when I got there, I realized I forgot my wallet. So I had to drive back home. But , but when I drove back to the store, it was closed.

Other Dependent Clause Fragments Ex. John lives in the small town of Whitman. A busy, industrial town near Boston.(frag) This is an appositive clause. Notice the ways in which it can be corrected. Correct: John lives in the small town of Whitman, a busy, industrial town near Boston.(appositive combined with the indep. Clause) Correct: John lives in the small town of Whitman, which is a busy, industrial town near Boston.(a relative clause is created with “which” and the clause is combined with the indep. Clause) Correct: John lives in a small town of Whitman. It is a busy, industrial town near Boston.(a subject and verb were added to create an indep. Clause) (Remember, these are the notes from Clauses and Phrases.)

Missing Subject and/or Verb Fragments (Phrase Fragments) Remember, this applies to the verbal (see Clauses and Phrases notes on Verbal Phrases.) Ex. Being a team player.( Being is not a main verb.) Correction: He is a team player. (The subject ”He” was added and “being” was replaced with the main verb “is”.)

Missing Subject and or Verb Fragment These examples are phrases. Remember, phrases do not have subjects or verbs. They are additional information added to the sentence . For example this a prepositional phrase: Ex. On the hood. We watched the sunset.(fragment) Ex. We watched the sunset on the hood. Ex. On the hood, we watched the sunset.

Run-Ons Run-Ons- or sometimes called a ‘fused sentence’ are two independent clauses that run together without any punctuation between them. Ex. It was raining we canceled the picnic.

Comma Splices A Comma splice means that two independent clauses only have a comma between them. Ex. It was raining, we canceled the picnic. A comma is not strong enough to combine two independent clauses.

Corrections for Run-Ons and Comma Splices There are five ways to fix Run-ons and Comma splices: 1.Use a comma and a coordinating conjunction (FANBOYS) to combine the sentences. Ex. It was raining, so we canceled the picnic. 2. Use a semi-colon to combine the sentences Ex. It was raining; we canceled the picnic.

Con’t 3. Use a subordinating conjunction and create a dependent clause. Attach it to the independent clause. Ex. Since it was raining, we canceled the picnic. 4. Separate the two independent clauses Ex. It was raining. We canceled the picnic.

And the Last One: Use a semicolon, conjunctive adverbs (transitions) and a comma. Some common conjunctive adverbs or transitions can be remembered by the use of the acronym: HOTSHOT CAT ( I know, I don’t know who makes these words up, but if they help…)

HOTSHOT CAT ; However, ; Otherwise, ; Therefore, ;Similarly, ;Hence, ; On the other hand, ;Thus, ; Consequently, ;Also, ;Then,

HOTSHOT CAT These are not all of the transitions, there are many others, but these are common ones. Ex. It was raining; therefore, we canceled the picnic. Remember, the conjunctive adverb must relate to the sentence. Look up what the definitions are to clarify contrasts (however , or in addition to (also, therefore.)