1. Complete Sentences, Fragments and Run-Ons

2. Complete Sentence
A sentence is a group of words that express a complete thought.
It contains a subject (who or what) and a verb (did what).

3. Sentence Fragment
A sentence fragment is created when a writer breaks a sentence into parts, leaving one part that is not a complete sentence.
The part is missing a subject or a verb.
Using end punctuation and capitalization will help you avoid sentence fragments.

4. Examples of Fragments Incorrect Please keep trying. Until you succeed.
My friends were planning on playing baseball. When it stopped raining.
Correct
Please keep trying until you succeed.
My friends were planning on playing baseball when it stopped raining.

5. Comma Splice
A comma splice occurs when a comma incorrectly joins two sentences together to make a compound sentence.
To make a compound sentence the two sentences must be joined by a comma and a conjunction (and, but, or, nor, for, so, yet.
They also can be joined with a semi-colon.

6. Examples of Comma Splices
Incorrect
Bill and Meg walked to school, they were still early.
Correct
Bill and Meg walked to school, and they were still early.
Bill and Meg walked to school; they were still early.

7. Run-On Sentence
A run-on sentence occurs when two or more sentences are joined together without the correct punctuation.
A run-on sentence must be divided into two or more separate sentences.

8. Examples of Run-On Sentences
Incorrect
On Saturday, Bill went to the baseball game but unfortunately it rained and he got wet, the game was delayed for 3 hours.
Correct
On Saturday, Bill went to the ball game. Unfortunately, it rained, and he got wet. The game was delayed for three hours.