fragments and run-ons and splices! oh my! a brief guide. to major grammatical errors that can turn...

Fragments and run-ons and

splices! OH MY!

A brief guide. To major grammatical errors that can turn potential A’s into

disasters teachers will cringe when they see these mistakes, I’m sure every one

of you is cringing too.

By: Kimberly Lynn McGraw

Revised by Mamie Webb Hixon (9/20/10)1

Fragments and run-ons and

splices! OH MY!

A brief guide. [fragment] To major grammatical errors that can turn potential A’s into disasters

[fragment][run-on sentence] teachers will cringe when they see these mistakes,[comma

splice] I’m sure every one of you is cringing too.

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Fragments

FRAGMENT

A group of words thatdoes not express a completed thought.

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Intentional Fragments

Splendid entertainment from a master storyteller.A soon-to-be classic.

One of the most mesmerizing stories of the decade.Achieves Shakespearean dimensions.

The intentional fragments above are from advertising print media about the 2010 movie The Social Network.

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Intentional FragmentsFrom Grammar in Context by Kitty Chen Dean

ADVERTISING LANGUAGE: Identify the intentional fragments in the advertising copy below.

• The perfect jacket for all occasions. Dressy with a tie. Casual with a polo shirt. Stain resistant. Waterproof. Inside and outside pockets. Secret pocket for important documents. Roomy. Hand-turned lapels. Five-button cuffs. Comes in charcoal or black. Order now while supplies last. One per customer, please.

• Want to lose weight? Have friends? Get a good job? Find that special someone? Join the TopNotch Health and Sports Club and make all your dreams come true. Sign up today! Join now and get the first month free. Also a tee shirt with our logo. And two free passes for anyone you know. A great bargain!

• Subscribe to Computer Casuals. The only magazine that tells you what to wear while you work at your computer. You’ll feel better knowing you look right for Games. Chats. Surfing.

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Intentional FragmentsFrom Grammar in Context by Kitty Chen Dean

“Professional writers often use intentional fragments for emphasis and variety since they want to attract and maintain their audience.”

• The perfect jacket for all occasions. Dressy with a tie. Casual with a polo shirt. Stain resistant. Waterproof. Inside and outside pockets. Secret pocket for important documents. Roomy. Hand-turned lapels. Five-button cuffs. Comes in charcoal or black. Order now while supplies last. One per customer, please.

• Want to lose weight? Have friends? Get a good job? Find that special someone? Join the TopNotch Health and Sports Club and make all your dreams come true. Sign up today! Join now and get the first month free. Also a tee shirt with our logo. And two free passes for anyone you know. A great bargain!

• Subscribe to Computer Casuals. The only magazine that tells you what to wear while you work at your computer. You’ll feel better knowing you look right for Games. Chats. Surfing. 6

Fragmentsfrom John McKernan’s The Writer’s Handbook, 2nd ed.

• Avoid unintentional fragments in academic and business writing.• A fragment IS NOT a true sentence, though it is capitalized and

punctuated as if it were a sentence.

• A true sentence must have the following:– subject - complete, finite verb - a complete thought

• Examples– Correct

The buying of so many American companies and so much real estate by the Japanese has caused concern on Wall Street.

– IncorrectThe buying of so many American companies. (missing complete thought)

The buying of so many American companies causing concern on Wall Street. (missing complete verb)Of so many American companies has caused concern. (missing a subject) 7

Spotting Fragmentsfrom Frederick Crews’ The Random House Handbook, 6th Ed.

You can recognize many fragments by the words they introduce.

• Subordinating terms such as although, because, especially, even, except, for example, including, instead of, so that, such as, that which, who, and when.

A PASSAGE ERROR-RIDDEN WITH FRAGMENTSI have always helped my older brother. Especially with his car. In addition, I assisted him

with many chores. Such as washing the car and vacuuming the interior. He let me do whatever I wanted. Except start the engine. Now I drive my own car. Which is a 1993 Chevy. Because of my experience with cars, I am thinking of possible jobs to help pay the cost of upkeep. Including driving a cab. Because maintaining a car can be extremely expensive.

REVISEDI have always helped my older brother, especially with his car. In addition, I assisted him

with many chores, such as washing the car and vacuuming the interior. He let me do whatever I wanted except start the engine. Now I drive my own car, which is a 1993 Chevy. Because of my experience with cars, I am thinking of possible jobs to help pay the cost of upkeep, including driving a cab because maintaining a car can be extremely expensive.

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Fragmentsfrom John McKernan’s The Writer’s Handbook, 2nd ed.

A group of words can contain a subject and a verb and still be afragment:• Local agencies will become overcrowded and ineffective. Unless

the number of mental health services is increased.• On Thursday, we reported the numbers of our missing traveler’s

checks. Which were lost during our arrival in New Orleans that morning.

• If there are no more malpractice suits, the hospital will win its license renewal. However, no one can be sure. Because patients are very quick to go to court.

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Revising Fragmentsfrom John McKernan’s The Writer’s Handbook, 2nd ed., and Martha Kolln’s Understanding

English Grammar, 4th Edition

Connect the fragment to the preceding sentence, which is most likely the sentence from which the fragment is disconnected.

• Local agencies will become overcrowded and ineffective. Unless the number of mental health services is increased.

• On Thursday, we reported the numbers of our missing traveler’s checks. Which were lost during our arrival in New Orleans that morning.

• If there are no more malpractice suits, the hospital will win its license renewal. However, no one can be sure. Because patients are very quick to go to court.

Revised:

• Local agencies will become overcrowded and ineffective unless the number of mental health services is increased.

• On Thursday, we reported the numbers of our missing traveler’s checks, which were lost during our arrival in New Orleans that morning.

• If there are no more malpractice suits, the hospital will win its license renewal. However, no one can be sure because patients are very quick to go to court.

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--The prime rate went down two percentage points during the last quarter.

Although government economists are still worried about high inflation and low productivity.

--I like many kinds of snacks. Pizza being the best.

Revised:

The prime rate went down two percentage points during the last quarter although government economists are still worried about high inflation and low productivity. I like many kinds of snacks, pizza being the best.

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--In August of 1992, Hurricane Andrew hit Florida and Louisiana with winds that clocked 175 mph. The country’s worst natural disaster in this century.

--At the class reunion, we laughed and reminisced. And sang old songs from the sixties.

Revised:

In August of 1992, Hurricane Andrew hit Florida and Louisiana with winds that clocked 175 mph, the country’s worst natural disaster in this century.

At the class reunion, we laughed and reminisced and sang old songs from the sixties.

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Change the fragment to a sentence.

--I’ll never forget the birthday present my dad bought me when I was ten. A new three-speed bike.

--Political and religious systems, social customs, loyalties and traditions tumbling down like so many rotten apples off a tree.

Revised:

I’ll never forget the birthday present my dad bought me when I was ten. It was a new three-speed bike.

Political and religious systems, social customs, loyalties and traditions came tumbling down like so many rotten apples off a tree.

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Add the missing subject or verb, or remove or change the punctuation.

--His character was stern. His manner reserved and usually forbidding.

--The speech for my film class took a long time to prepare. And then turned out poorly. I needed a live audience. But didn’t have one for the test.

Revised:

His character was stern. His manner was reserved and usually forbidding.

The speech for my film class took a long time to prepare and then turned out poorly. I needed a live audience but didn’t have one for the test.

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• The study showed that many employees eventually begin to neglect their duties. Merely because they become bored with their job.

• The Color Purple is the story of the trials and tribulations of two sisters. Overcoming obstacles to discover themselves and to find each other after a long separation.

• Since 1945, New York has been the undisputed center of the art world. A center that is livelier than those of prewar Europe.

• In 1977, there were 200,000 foreign students attending colleges and universities in the United States; the largest number coming from the Middle East.

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• The study showed that many employees eventually begin to neglect their duties merely because they become bored with their job.

• The Color Purple is the story of the trials and tribulations of two sisters overcoming obstacles to discover themselves and to find each other after a long separation.

• Since 1945, New York has been the undisputed center of the art world, a center that is livelier than those of prewar Europe.

• In 1977, there were 200,000 foreign students attending colleges and universities in the United States, the largest number coming from the Middle East.

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Run-On/Fused Sentencesfrom James A. Heffernan's and John E. Lincoln’s Writing: A College Handbook, 2nd ed.

and Mamie Hixon’s Real Good Grammar, Too, 2nd ed.

RUN-ON SENTENCEA sentence construction error that occurs

when two independent clauses (complete sentences) are not separated by a

coordinating conjunction or any punctuation

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A LONG SENTENCE IS NOT NECESSARILY A RUN-ON SENTENCE.

CORRECT SENTENCE:Black-bearded, pale-faced, with thin, compressed lips, aquiline nose, and dark, piercing eyes, he slouched in his weather-stained uniform; yet he was greatly beloved by the few who knew him best, and he was gifted with that strange power of commanding measureless devotion from the thousands whom he ruled with an iron hand.

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A RUN-ON SENTENCE CAN BE A SHORT SENTENCE.

RUN-ON SENTENCE:The new CEO isn’t only handsome he’s rich too.

Walk with your feet dance with your heart.

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Examples:Henry David Thoreau went to the woods in order to simplify his life he also wanted to live close to nature.

Most working people get at least one raise a year however, inflation often leaves them with no increase in buying power.

Ethan didn’t show up for class until it was half over then he asked the professor if he could leave early.

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Revising Run-On Sentences

Revision 1: Add a period and a capital letter.Henry David Thoreau went to the woods in order to simplify his life. He alsowanted to live close to nature.

Most working people get at least one raise a year. However, inflation oftenleaves them with no increase in buying power.

Revision 2: Add a semicolonHenry David Thoreau went to the woods in order to simplify his life; he alsowanted to live close to nature.

Most working people get at least one raise a year; however, inflation oftenleaves them with no increase in buying power.

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Revision 1: Add a period and a capital letter.Ethan didn’t show up for class until it was half over. Then he asked the professor if he could leave early.

Revision 2: Add a semicolonEthan didn’t show up for class until it was half over; then he asked the professor if he could leave early.

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Run-On/Fused Sentencesfrom the HBJ Handbook, 1992 Edition

• Liz is already fluent in English and Spanish in addition, she is learning Chinese.

• Emily Dickinson wrote her poems in seclusion she never intended them for publication.

• Rus works part time as a security guard he is helping to pay his tuition.

• Stewart and Rosemary flew to Denver from there, they drove to the ski lodge in Aspen.

• Cloning has aroused great interest as a scientific novelty however, its implications seem frightening to many.

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• Liz is already fluent in English and Spanish; in addition, she is learning Chinese.

• Emily Dickinson wrote her poems in seclusion; she never intended them for publication.

• Rus works part time as a security guard; he is helping to pay his tuition.

• Stewart and Rosemary flew to Denver; from there, they drove to the ski lodge in Aspen.

• Cloning has aroused great interest as a scientific novelty; however, its implications seem frightening to many.

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Comma Splices/Comma Faultsfrom John McKernan’s The Writer’s Handbook, 2nd ed.

COMMA SPLICE akaCOMMA FAULT

A comma splice is a sentence error, not a comma error. A

comma splice occurs when two complete sentences are

separated only by a comma.

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Comma Splices/Comma Faults

The following sentence contains a comma error, NOT a comma splice:

What’s more dangerous than aggressive driving, is indecisive driving.

A comma error is a punctuation error, not a sentence error.

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Revising Comma Splicesfrom John McKernan’s The Writer’s Handbook, 2nd ed.

• The divorce rate has risen sharply in recent years, many couples, consequently, now choose to live together before marrying.

• Graduate students who are also teaching assistants (TA’s) carry a double burden, they must balance the needs of their students against the demands of their own studies.

• Angie arrived on campus with mixed feelings, she was already homesick as well as excited.

• Mrs. Webb listens to everyone's opinions, then she makes up her own mind.

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Revising Comma Splicesfrom John McKernan’s The Writer’s Handbook, 2nd ed.

• The divorce rate has risen sharply in recent years; many couples, consequently, now choose to live together before marrying.

• Graduate students who are also teaching assistants (TA’s) carry a double burden; they must balance the needs of their students against the demands of their own studies.

• Angie arrived on campus with mixed feelings; she was already homesick as well as excited.

• Mrs. Webb listens to everyone's opinions; then she makes up her own mind.

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Comma Splicesfrom James A. Heffernan's and John E. Lincoln’s Writing: A College Handbook, 2nd ed.

Henry David Thoreau went to the woods in order to simplify his life, he alsowanted to live close to nature.

Most working people get at least one raise a year, however, inflation oftenleaves them with no increase in buying power.

Ethan didn’t show up for class until it was half over, then he asked the professor if he could leave early.

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Comma Splice Revisionsfrom James A. Heffernan's and John E. Lincoln’s Writing: A College Handbook, 2nd ed.

Revision 1: Add a period and a capital letter.Henry David Thoreau went to the woods in order to simplify his life. He alsowanted to live close to nature.

Most working people get at least one raise a year. However, inflation oftenleaves them with no increase in buying power.

Ethan didn’t show up for class until it was half over. Then he asked the professor if he could leave early.

Revision 2: Add a semicolonHenry David Thoreau went to the woods in order to simplify his life; he alsowanted to live close to nature.

Most working people get at least one raise a year; however, inflation oftenleaves them with no increase in buying power.

Ethan didn’t show up for class until it was half over; then he asked the professor if he could leave early.

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A Few Exceptionsfrom John McKernan’s The Writer’s Handbook, 2nd ed.and Mamie Hixon’s Real Good Grammar, Too, 2nd ed.

• Intentional use of fragments– Used for effect

We live in Florida, and summers are always hot. So hot!

• Two exceptions to comma splices– Short, parallel independent clauses joined by commas

He fished, she cooked, we all ate.

I came, I saw, I conquered.

– Short question and short statement joined by commas

I didn’t know, did you?

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BONUS QUESTION

• IS THE FOLLOWING WORD GROUP A RUN-ON, FRAGMENT, COMMA SPLICE, OR CORRECT?

– Verizon Wireless said Sunday that it would pay up to $90 million in refunds to 15 million cell phone customers who were wrongly charged for data sessions or Internet use, one of the largest-ever customer refunds by a telecommunications company.

– Breaking News Alert

The New York Times

Sun., October 03, 2010 -- 5:21 PM ET

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BONUS QUESTION

• IS THE FOLLOWING WORD GROUP A RUN-ON, FRAGMENT, COMMA SPLICE, OR CORRECT?

– Verizon Wireless said Sunday that it would pay up to $90 million in refunds to 15 million cell phone customers who were wrongly charged for data sessions or Internet use, one of the largest-ever customer refunds by a telecommunications company.

– Breaking News Alert

The New York Times

Sun., October 03, 2010 -- 5:21 PM ET

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SENTENCING

Now that you have completed this “crash course” in Sentence Errors, you have the following “sentencing”:

Don’t write run-on sentences they are hard to read.

Do not separate two sentences with a comma, use a semicolon or a period.

And no sentence fragments.

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Resources

Dean, Kitty Chen. English Grammar in Context. Boston: Allyn and Bacon, 2001.

Heffernan, James A., and John E. Lincoln. Writing: A College Handbook. 2nd ed. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, Inc., 1986.

Hixon, Mamie Webb. Real Good Grammar, Too. 2nd ed. Dubuque, Iowa: Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company, 1997.

Kolln, Martha. Understanding English Grammar, Fourth Edition. New York: MacMillan Publishing, 1990.

McKernan, John. The Writer’s Handbook. 2nd ed. New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, Inc., 1991.

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fragments and run-ons and splices! oh my! a brief guide. to major grammatical errors that can turn...

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