Fragments vs. Run-On SentencesClaire Brownstone

FragmentsA sentence fragment is an

incomplete sentence.They lack either a subject or a

verb or both.The most common mistake

students make is with dependent clauses.

Dependent ClausesDependent clauses have a subject and

a verb, so they look complete, but do not express a complete thought.

Example: If you want to go with me. What makes this sentence incomplete is

the first word: If. Words like if, because, after, and when

are subordinating conjunctions. They join two sentences, make one

sentence dependent on another, and indicate a logical relationship.

How To Fix FragmentsRemember that every dependent

clause needs to be attached to an independent clause.

Scan sentences for subject, verb, and complete thought.

If you find a subordinating conjunction, identify the whole dependent clause and attach it to an independent clause.

Run-On SentencesYou are making a run-on when

you put two complete sentences (a subject and its predicate and another subject and its predicate) together in one sentence without separating them properly.

Ex: My favorite Mediterranean spread is hummus it is very garlicky.

Just because it is a long sentence does not mean it is a run-on!

Fixing Run-OnsTo find run-ons, form the sentence into a questionEx: Is my favorite Mediterranean spread hummus

is it very garlicky?Doesn’t work, does it? You must form it into two

separate questions. Fix run-ons using semicolons, commas and

coordinating conjunctions (and, but, yet), subordinating conjunctions, or dashes.

You can also make two separate sentences. NEVER use just a comma, or you end up with a

comma splice. Ex: My favorite Mediterranean spread is

hummus, it is very garlicky.