Comma Splices, Run-Ons, and Fragments
Chapter Opener
54
need a complete sentence?
Comma Splices, Run-Ons, and Fragments
The sentence errors marked most often in college writing are comma splices, run-
Identify comma splices and run-
Identify a comma splice simply by reading the clauses on either side of a doubtful comma. If both clauses stand on their own as sentences (with their own subjects and verbs), it’s a comma splice.
| COMMA SPLICES | Officials at many elementary schools are trying to reduce childhood obesity on their campuses, research suggests that few of their strategies will work. |
| Some schools emphasize a need for more exercise, others have even gone so far as to reinstate recess. |
A run-
Common Subordinating Conjunctions
| and | but |
| for | nor |
| or | so |
| yet |
| RUN- |
Officials at many elementary schools are trying to reduce childhood obesity on their campuses research suggests that few of their strategies will work. |
| Some schools emphasize a need for more exercise others have even gone so far as to reinstate recess. |
Fix comma splices and run-
Officials at many elementary schools are trying to reduce childhood obesity on their campuses, but research suggests that few of their strategies will work.
Some schools emphasize a need for more exercise, and others have even gone so far as to reinstate recess.
A second fix is to use a semicolon alone to join the two clauses.
Officials at many elementary schools are trying to reduce childhood obesity on their campuses; research suggests that few of their strategies will work.
Some schools emphasize a need for more exercise; others have even gone so far as to reinstate recess.
Less frequently, colons or dashes may be used as connecting punctuation when the second clause summarizes or illustrates the main point of the first clause.
Some schools have taken extreme measures: They have banned cookies, snacks, and other high-
Along with the semicolon (or colon or dash), you may wish to add a transitional word or phrase (such as however or in fact). If you do, set off the transitional word or phrase with commas. (connect ideas)
Officials at many elementary schools are trying to reduce childhood obesity on their campuses; research, however, suggests that few of their strategies will work.
Some schools emphasize a need for more exercise — in fact, some have even gone so far as to reinstate recess.
Alternatively, you can rewrite the sentence to make one of the clauses clearly subordinate to the other. To do that, introduce one of the clauses with a subordinating conjunction so that it can no longer stand as a sentence on its own. Compare the two corrected versions to see your options:
| DRAFT | Officials at many elementary schools are trying to reduce childhood obesity on their campuses, research suggests that few of their strategies will work. |
| CORRECTED | Although officials at many elementary schools are trying to reduce childhood obesity on their campuses, research suggests that few of their strategies will work. |
| CORRECTED | Officials at many elementary schools are trying to reduce childhood obesity on their campuses, even though research suggests that few of their strategies will work. |
Common Subordinating Conjunctions
| after | once |
| although | since |
| as | that |
| because | though |
| before | unless |
| except | until |
| if | when |
Finally, you can simply use end punctuation to create two independent sentences. Here, a period between the clauses eliminates either a comma splice or a run-
Officials at many elementary schools are trying to reduce childhood obesity on their campuses. Research suggests that few of their strategies will work.
Identify sentence fragments.A sentence fragment is a word group that lacks a subject, verb, or possibly both. As such, it is not a complete sentence and is usually not appropriate for academic and professional writing. (You will find fragments routinely in fiction and popular writing.)
| FRAGMENT | Climatologists see much physical evidence of climate change. Especially in the receding of glaciers around the world. |
Fix sentence fragments in your work.You have two options for fixing sentence fragments. Attach the fragment to a nearby sentence with appropriate punctuation, often a comma:
| COMPLETE | Climatologists see much physical evidence of climate change, especially |
| SENTENCE | in the receding of glaciers around the world. |
Turn the fragment into its own sentence:
| COMPLETE SENTENCE | Climatologists see much physical evidence of climate change. They are especially concerned by the receding of glaciers around the world. |
Watch for fragments in the following situations.Often a fragment will follow a complete sentence and start with a subordinating conjunction.
| FRAGMENT | Climate change seems to be the product of human activity. Though some scientists believe sun cycles may explain the changing climate. |
| COMPLETE SENTENCE | Climate change seems to be the product of human activity, though some scientists believe sun cycles may explain the changing climate. |
Participles (such as breaking, seeking, finding) and infinitives (such as to break, to seek, to find) can also lead you into fragments.
| FRAGMENT | Of course, many people welcome the warmer weather. Upsetting scientists who fear governments will not act until global warming becomes irreversible. |
| COMPLETE SENTENCE | Of course, many people welcome the warmer weather. Their attitude upsets scientists who fear governments will not act until global warming becomes irreversible. |
Use deliberate fragments only in appropriate situations.You’ll find that fragments are common in advertising, fiction, and informal writing. In personal e-
In your dreams. Excellent!
Not on your life. When pigs fly.
For an activity on run-
For an activity on fragments, see Tutorials > LearningCurve Activities > Fragments