1. Fragments and Run-on Sentences

2. Fragments-What are they?  A SENTENCE FRAGMENT fails to be a sentence. It cannot stand by itself. It does not contain even one independent clause. There are several reasons why a group of words may seem to act like a sentence but not have “what it takes” to make it as a complete thought. independent clause.independent clause.

3.  It is missing a subject: Ex. Working far into the night in an effort to salvage her little boat.  It is missing a verb phrase: Ex. Some of the students working in Professor Espinoza's laboratory last semester.  It is not a complete thought: Ex. Even though he had the better arguments and was by far the more powerful speaker. It might be a fragment if…

4. Run-On Sentences  A run-on sentence occurs when 2 clauses have been connected incorrectly. It really has nothing to do with the length of the sentence. Ex. Some students think that they can study for an exam by “cramming” all night, they are probably wrong.

5. This is a run-on because there is a comma splice (when two independent clause are connected with just a comma) The rule for connecting two independent clauses is that you use a comma & a conjunction or a semi-colon

6. Correcting Run-On due to a comma splice:  1. Make the clauses into two separate sentences. Some students think that they can study for an exam by “cramming” all night. They are probably wrong.

7.  2. Add a comma & a conjunction: Some students think that they can study for an exam by “cramming” all night, but they are probably wrong.  3. Add a semi-colon: Some students think that they can study for an exam by “cramming” all night; they are probably wrong.