Avoiding Sentence Fragments and Run-ons Recognizing Fragments an incomplete idea punctuated as a...

Avoiding Sentence Avoiding Sentence Fragments Fragments and Run-onsand Run-ons

Recognizing FragmentsRecognizing Fragments

an incomplete idea punctuated as a an incomplete idea punctuated as a complete sentencecomplete sentence

Example 1: that he wanted to useExample 1: that he wanted to use Example 2: since you are going to Example 2: since you are going to LondonLondon Example 3: who won the prize Example 3: who won the prize last yearlast year

Correcting FragmentsCorrecting Fragments

Connect a fragment to the words in Connect a fragment to the words in a nearby sentence.a nearby sentence.

Example: Inspired by the grace of the Example: Inspired by the grace of the dancer.dancer.

Inspired by the grace of the Inspired by the grace of the dancerdancer, Linda saw the , Linda saw the performance again.performance again.


Add any missing sentence part that Add any missing sentence part that is needed to make the fragment a is needed to make the fragment a complete sentence.complete sentence.

Example- The troupe of lively young Example- The troupe of lively young dancers.dancers.

The troupe of lively young dancersThe troupe of lively young dancers moved across the stage.moved across the stage.


Check for missing parts. Some Check for missing parts. Some fragments may look long enough to fragments may look long enough to be sentences, but they may still not be sentences, but they may still not express a complete thought.express a complete thought.

Example- After reading Steinbeck’s Example- After reading Steinbeck’s novel, with its probing look at novel, with its probing look at poverty and greed, in the style so poverty and greed, in the style so typical of this master storyteller.typical of this master storyteller.

Recognizing Run-onsRecognizing Run-ons

A run-on sentence is two or more A run-on sentence is two or more sentences capitalized and sentences capitalized and punctuated as if they were one.punctuated as if they were one.

Example- The dancers practiced Example- The dancers practiced every day they were soon the best in every day they were soon the best in the state.the state.

Avoiding Run-on Avoiding Run-on SentencesSentences

The length of a sentence has nothing to do with whether or not a sentence is considered a run-on. An over-exuberant, run-off-at-the-mouth, 400-word gorilla of a sentence can be structurally fine. A run-on sentence is one in which two clauses have been connected incorrectly.


Let’s think of an independent clause as an independently operated train headed west . . .

getting connected to another train headed east.

Some students think they can study for an

important exam by “cramming” all night, they are probably wrong.

Nothing but grief will result from coupling these train clauses incorrectly! For example. . . .



important exam by “cramming” all night, they are probably wrong.

This is an example of the dreaded COMMA SPLICE!

A comma splice connects two independent clauses with only a comma.

There are several ways to fix a comma splice. . . .


1. We can insert a period and start a new sentence.Some students think they can study for an

important exam by “cramming” all night. They are probably wrong.2. We can insert a comma plus a coordinating conjunction.Some students think they can study for an important exam by “cramming” all night, but they are probably wrong.3. We can use a semicolon.


important exam by “cramming” all night; they are probably wrong.


There are three situations in which run-on sentences are apt to happen:

1. When a pronoun in the second clause refers to a noun in the first clause: The President’s popularity has plummeted, she apparently underestimated the opposition.2. When a suggestion or directive occurs in the second clause: You will be responsible for this material on the final exam, study it thoroughly now.3. When two clauses are connected by a transitional expression: Many people think protectionism can halt rising prices, however, the opposite is actually true.


1. The President’s popularity has plummeted, and she apparently underestimated the opposition.2. You will be responsible for this material on the final exam. Study it thoroughly now.

3. Many people think protectionism can halt rising prices; however, the opposite is actually true.

Practice Finding Run-ons Practice Finding Run-ons and Fragmentsand Fragments

Toe dancing was developed in the early Toe dancing was developed in the early nineteenth century it did not become nineteenth century it did not become widely used until the 1830’s. When widely used until the 1830’s. When Swedish-Italian ballerina Marie Swedish-Italian ballerina Marie Taglioni demonstrated its potential Taglioni demonstrated its potential for poetic effect. Also known as for poetic effect. Also known as pointe workpointe work. Almost exclusively used . Almost exclusively used by used women, although male by used women, although male dancers may use it as well.dancers may use it as well.

Avoiding Sentence Fragments and Run-ons Recognizing Fragments an incomplete idea punctuated as a...

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