COMMA SPLİCE

A Comma Splice incorrectly joins two independent clauses with a comma

but no conjuction.

Examples:

1.My neighbor Mr.Hoffman is seventy- five years old,he plays tennis every Saturday afternoon.

Corrected:My neighbor Mr.Hoffman is seventy- five years old.He plays tennis every Saturday afternoon.

2.It was an astonishing exhibit,the Guggenheim Museum’s recent show was called “The Art of the Motorcycle.”

Corrected: It was an astonishing exhibit.The Guggenheim Museum’s recent show was called “The Art of the Motorcycle.”

3.Museumgoers sported leather vests and ponytails,their motorcycles jammed New York City streets.

Corrected:Museumgoers sported leather vests and ponytails.Their motorcycles jammed New York City streets.

4.That was the 1868 French velocipede,it looked more like a bicycle with a steam engine under the seat than a motorcycle.

Corrected:That was the 1868 French velocipede. It looked more like a bicycle with a steam engine under the seat than a motorcycle.

5.Will Kellogg was an unlikely candidate for fame and fortune,he became one of America’s great successes.

Corrected:Will Kellogg was an unlikely candidate for fame and fortune. He became one of America’s great successes.

6.In 1880,Will was twenty years old, Dr. John hired him to work at the resort.

Corrected: In 1880,Will was twenty years old. Dr. John hired him to work at the resort.

9.Isabel Allende has survived many political and personal tragedies,most of those events have found there way into her books.

Corrected:Isabel Allende has survived many political and personal tragedies. Most of those events have found there way into her books.

10.By 1955,Richard had developed his own musical style,it combined gospel with rhythm and blues.

Corrected:By 1955,Richard had developed his own musical style. It combined gospel with rhythm and blues.

7.The rest is history today Scrabble is produced in half a dozen foreign languages it is also used as a learning tool.

Corrected:The rest is history today Scrabble is produced in half a dozen foreign languages. It is also used as a learning tool.

8.Everyone knows that Scrabble is America’s favorite word game,it was invented by Alfred Butts.

Corrected:Everyone knows that Scrabble is America’s favorite word game. It was invented by Alfred Butts.

RUN-ON SENTENCE

A run-on sentence incorrectly runs together two independent clauses without a conjunction or punctuation.This error confuses the reader,who cannot tell where one thought stops and the next begins.

The run-on and the comma splice can be corrected in five ways:

Use two separate sentences.Use a coordinating conjuction.Use a subortinating conjuction.Use a semicolon.Use a semicolon and a conjuctive adverb.

EXAMPLES:

1.The Italian MV Agusta F4 was the latest model on display this one looked like a fantastic space machine.

Corrected:The Italian MV Agusta F4 was the latest model on display;therefore, this one looked like a fantastic space machine.

2.The show attracted more visitors than any other Guggenheim exhibit museum attendance was 45 percent higher than usual.

Corrected:The show attracted more visitors than any other Guggenheim exhibit; museum attendance was 45 percent higher than usual.

3. Marriage is a serious step, they want to get to know each other as well as possible.

Corrected:Marriage is a serious step;therefore, they want to get to know each other as well as possible.

4.His father pulled him from school at the age of thirteen he made Will a traveling broom salesman for the family company.

Corrected:His father pulled him from school at the age of thirteen;he made Will a traveling broom salesman for the family company.

5.He treated his patients with exercise and a strict vegeterian diet he wrote best-selling books about healthful living.

Corrected:He treated his patients with exercise and a strict vegeterian diet;then,he wrote best-selling books about healthful living.

6.John bicycled to work,Will jogged alongside getting his daily work orders.

Corrected:John bicycled to work,but Will jogged alongside getting his daily work orders.

7.Dr.John was a wealthy man,he never paid Will more than eighty-seven dollars a month.

Corrected:Although Dr.John was a wealthy man,he never paid Will more than eighty-seven dollars a month.

8.In 1906,Will finally bought out John’s share of the cereal patents,struck out on his own.

Corrected: In 1906,Will finally bought out John’s share of the cereal patents and struck out on his own.

9.Butts made fifty Scrabble sets by hand he gave them to his friends.

Corrected:Butts made fifty Scrabble sets by hand,and he gave them to his friends.

10.Butts and Brunot couldn’t keep up with the demand,they sold the rights to a game manufacturer.

Corrected:Butts and Brunot couldn’t keep up with the demand;they sold the rights to a game manufacturer.

NON-PARALLEL SENTENCES

Non-Parallel structure does not add both clout and clarity to your writing. When you use parallel structure, you increase the readability of your writing by creating word patterns readers can follow easily.

EXAMPLES:1.John Taylor Gatto criticizes public schools because they are compulsory, funded by the government, and destroy students' humanity. Corrected:John Taylor Gatto criticizes public schools because they require students to attend, receive money from the government, and destroy students' humanity.

2. He described skiing in the Alps, swimming in the Adriatic, and the drive across the Sahara Desert.

Corrected:He described skiing in the Alps, swimming in the Adriatic, and driving across the Sahara Desert.

3.He spoke more of his term as ambassador than being president.

Corrected:He spoke more of being ambassador than of being president.

4. The schools in the rural area are smaller than the inner city.

Corrected:The schools in the rural area are smaller than the schools in the inner city.

5. The scientists disputed not only the newspaper article but also they disputed the university's official statement.

Corrected:The scientists disputed not only the newspaper article but also the university's official statement.

6. I have neither the patience to complete the assignment nor do I have the time complete it.

Corrected:I have neither the patience nor the time to complete the assignment.

7. They acted as either individual citizens or as members of the committee.

Corrected:They acted either as individual citizens or as members of the committee.

8. Kate prepared the speech on the plane, and it was delivered by her at the conference.

Corrected:Kate prepared the speech on the plane and delivered it at the conference.

9. Robert has in the past and will in the future continue to support the measure.

Corrected:Robert has in the past supported, and will in the future continue to support, the measure.ORRobert has supported the measure in the past, and he will continue to support it in the future.

10. What counts isn't how you look but your behavior.

Corrected:What counts isn't how you look but how you behave.

SENTENCE FRAGMENTS

Another error to avoid is the sentence fragment.A sentence must contain a subject and a verb and must be able to stand alone as a complate idea.A sentence fragment,therefore,can be defined in terms of what it lacks:either a subject or a verb,or both-it cannot stand alone as a complete idea.

EXAMPLES:1.Kirk decided to major in psychology.Because human behavior had always fascinated him.

Corrected:Kirk decided to major in psychology because human behavior had always fascinated him.

2.Mrs.Costa is a chemistry teacher who never runs out of creative ideas.Who has the ability to keep her classes involved throughout the lesson.

Corrected:Mrs.Costa is a chemistry teacher who never runs out of creative ideas and who has the ability to keep her classes involved throughout the lesson.

3.Daniel can always be seen on the track in the morning. Running a mile or two before breakfast.

Corrected:Daniel can always be seen on the track in the morning,running a mile or two before breakfast.

4.A fine pianist.Marsha won a scholarship to Juilliard.

Corrected:A fine pianist,Marsha won a scholarship to Juilliard.

5.Laura has always wanted to become a travel agent.To tell people about exotic countries that they might visit.

Corrected:Laura has always wanted to become a travel agent and to tell people about exotic countries that they might visit.

6.Throughout its exciting history.The Regent diamond has been one of the world’s most desired jewels.

Corrected:Throughout its exciting history,the Regent diamond has been one of the world’s most desired jewels.

7.In 1701,the 410-carat gem was discovered in an Indian mine by a slave.Who risked his life to smuggle it out.

Corrected:In 1701,the 410-carat gem was discovered in an Indian mine by a slave who risked his life to smuggle it out.

8.The merchant had difficulty unloading the diamond.Because it was so large and because it was stolen.

Corrected:The merchant had difficulty unloading the diamond because it was so large and because it was stolen.

9.He finally sold it to Robert Pitt,a young Englishman.Who had come to India seeking his fortune.

Corrected:He finally sold it to Robert Pitt,a young Englishman who had come to India seeking his fortune.

10.Whenever he carried the stone.He disguished himself and would not sleep in the same place for more than two nights.

Corrected:Whenever he carried the stone,he disguished himself and would not sleep in the same place for more than two nights.

ReferencesEvergreen with Reading A guide to

Writing

Teacher:Asst. Prof. Dr. Elif DEMİREL

Prepared by:Firuze Tuba AKSUStudent’s Number:265542

Project’s Subject:Common sentence errors-Out of assignment for week 4-1st year writing class