Editing for Comma Splices and Fused Sentences English 803

Independent Clauses / An Independent clause (IC) is a group of words with a subject and a verb that expresses a complete thought. / Marty enjoyed his first year of college. (A sentence with one independent clause) / He learned how to study, and he learned how to manage his time. (a sentence with two independent clauses) / He had the time to complete his schoolwork properly and time to spend with his friends.(a sentence with one IC and a pair of infinitive phrases. / An Independent clause (IC) is a group of words with a subject and a verb that expresses a complete thought. / Marty enjoyed his first year of college. (A sentence with one independent clause) / He learned how to study, and he learned how to manage his time. (a sentence with two independent clauses) / He had the time to complete his schoolwork properly and time to spend with his friends.(a sentence with one IC and a pair of infinitive phrases.

Subject Pretenders / Sometimes we mistake words in prepositional phrases for subjects of clauses / She applied as a short order cook at Gino’s. “Short order cook” is not the subject of this clause; “She” is the subject. / One of my favorite comic strips in the Sunday paper is Doonesbury. “comic strips” is not the subject of this clause; “one” is the subject.

Verb Pretenders / Ing words are not verbs unless they have a form of “to be” in front of them (“was,” “is,” etc.) / We can spot the crew rowing toward the shore. (Although it looks like a verb, “rowing” is not the verb of this clause; “spot” is the verb) / Yelling loudly, Peter hailed the cab. (Again, yelling is not the verb; “hailed” is the verb of this clause.) / Ing words are not verbs unless they have a form of “to be” in front of them (“was,” “is,” etc.) / We can spot the crew rowing toward the shore. (Although it looks like a verb, “rowing” is not the verb of this clause; “spot” is the verb) / Yelling loudly, Peter hailed the cab. (Again, yelling is not the verb; “hailed” is the verb of this clause.) / To + Verb: Infinitives are not verbs. / Susan went to the store to buy apples. (“to buy” is not the verb in this clause; “went” is the verb) / To study would be the sensible thing to do. (“To study” is not the verb in this clause; “would be” is the verb.):

Fused Sentences / Two or more IC’s without a proper connecting word and punctuation. / Three corrections: / IC. IC. / IC; IC. / IC, (FANBOY) IC. Fanboys = coordinating conjunctions = For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So (These are crucial tools for connecting (or coordinating) ideas into more complex sentences. Note: The only time you must have a comma before a FANBOY is when it connects two independent clauses.

Example / Fused Sentence: I gave my dog Ralph the bone he liked it so much that it was gone in a minute. / I gave my dog Ralph the bone. He liked it so much that it was gone in a minute. / I gave my dog Ralph the bone; he liked it so much that it was gone in a minute. / I gave my dog Ralph the bone, and he liked it so much that it was gone in a minute. / Fused Sentence: I gave my dog Ralph the bone he liked it so much that it was gone in a minute. / I gave my dog Ralph the bone. He liked it so much that it was gone in a minute. / I gave my dog Ralph the bone; he liked it so much that it was gone in a minute. / I gave my dog Ralph the bone, and he liked it so much that it was gone in a minute.

Comma Splice / A sentence with two independent clauses separated only by a comma. / Three Corrections / IC. IC.. / IC; IC. / IC, (fanboys) IC.

Example / Comma Splice: My sister is still in law school, she expects to finish in June. / My sister is still in law school. She expects to finish in June. / My sister is still in law school; she expects to finish in June. / My sister is till in law school, but she expects to finish in June. / Comma Splice: My sister is still in law school, she expects to finish in June. / My sister is still in law school. She expects to finish in June. / My sister is still in law school; she expects to finish in June. / My sister is till in law school, but she expects to finish in June.