Sentence Fragments and Run-On Sentences

“Don’t Break My Heart……”

Avoiding sentence fragments, run-on sentences, and commas splices is VERY important in academic writing.

While famous writers may sometimes use sentence fragments and run-on sentences to produce certain effects, fragments and run-on sentences should be avoided in academic coursework.

Sentence Fragments A sentence fragment is a group of words

intended to be a sentence. However, it may be lacking a subject, a verb, or both.

A sentence must have a subject, must have a verb, and must be a complete thought.

Writing a sentence fragment is a lot like wearing a shirt with no pants!! You need both to make a complete outfit!

Sentence Fragments Went on a vacation to Italy. Incorrect

This is a sentence fragment because there is no subject. Who went on a vacation?

Lea went on a vacation to Italy. Correct

In his gymnastics class, Stephen. Incorrect This is a sentence fragment because there is no verb.

What did Stephen do? In his gymnastics class, Stephen scored a perfect ten.

Correct

Sentence Fragments When Kathleen gave advice. Incorrect

This is a subordinate clause and must be joined to an independent clause. There is a subject and a verb in this clause, but it does not express a complete thought.

When Kathleen gave advice, I made sure to take notes. Correct

We’ve got to put a stop to this!

Have you ever talked to a

person who just goes on

and on and on? A run-on sentence occurs

when two independent clauses are joined incorrectly

with no punctuation or the wrong punctuation. There are two types of run-on sentences.

Fused sentences Comma splices

Run-on Sentences Fused sentences occur when two

sentences are combined with no punctuation. Brooke has a Chihuahua named Cotter Monica has

two Chihuahuas named Taco and Paco. Incorrect Brooke has a Chihuahua named Cotter, and Monica

has two Chihuahuas named Taco and Paco. Correct

Run-on Sentences A comma splice occurs when two sentences

are incorrectly joined by a comma and no coordinating conjunction. Katherine likes to rap catchy lyrics on the way to

work, Donald is a poet who writes rap lyrics. Incorrect

Katherine likes to rap catchy lyrics on the way to work; Donald is a poet who writes rap lyrics. Correct

Revising Run-on Sentences

There are four ways to revise run-on sentences.Separate the sentencesAdd a comma and a coordinating

conjunctionAdd a semicolon or a semicolon and

conjunctive adverbRestructure the sentence

Revising Run-on Sentences Separate the sentences.

Michelle went shopping she bought all of the cute dresses in the store. Incorrect

Michelle went shopping. She bought all

of the cute dresses in the store. Correct Add a comma and a coordinating conjunction.

Sonya edits many papers she needs to plant a forest to replenish the trees she has killed. Incorrect

Sonya edits many papers, so she needs to plant a forest to replenish the trees she has killed. Correct

Revising Run-on Sentences Add a semicolon

Cassie is a math guru she shares her vast knowledge. Incorrect

Cassie is a math guru; she

shares her vast knowledge. Correct

or a semicolon with a conjunctive adverb. Wendy is our fearless leader she has our backs.

Incorrect Wendy is our fearless leader; therefore,

she has our backs. Correct

Revising Run-on Sentences Restructure the sentence.

Suzanne does not want to hurt writers’ feelings she just tells the truth. Incorrect Even though she tells the truth, Suzanne does not want to hurt writers’ feelings. Correct

Josh is never wrong he is mistaken. Incorrect Though Josh is mistaken, he is never wrong. Correct

“Don’t break my heart….”

Use these rules and examples to avoid sentence fragments, run-on sentences, and comma splices in your writing.