A comma, paired with a coordinating conjunction (e.g., 'and,' 'but,' or 'or'), corrects a run-on sentence. Use a comma and a coordinating conjunction.Revision example: I love to write papers I would write one every day if I had the time. Using a semicolon is a stylistic choice that establishes a close relationship between the two sentences. Inserting a semicolon between independent clauses creates a grammatically correct sentence.

I would write one every day if I had the time. Revision example: I love to write papers. Check, however, to make sure that this solution does not result in short, choppy sentences. This revision works especially well with longer sentences. The easiest way to fix a run-on is to split the sentence into smaller sentences using a period. There are several ways to connect independent clauses. There are several easy ways to connect independent clauses.Ī run-on sentence can be fixed by connecting its parts correctly. You can correct a run-on sentence by connecting or separating its parts correctly. Revision: The results of the study were inconclusive therefore, more research needs to be done on the topic. See more examples of this on the semicolon page. To fix this type of comma splice, use a semicolon before the transitional expression and add a comma after it. Sentence 2: More research needs to be done on the topic Transitional expression (conjunctive adverb): therefore Sentence 1: The results of the study were inconclusive Example of a comma splice: The results of the study were inconclusive, therefore more research needs to be done on the topic. Some comma splices occur when a writer attempts to use a transitional expression in the middle of a sentence. Sentence 2: They needed to indicate their preference. Sentence 1: Participants could leave the study at any time. Example of a comma splice: Participants could leave the study at any time, they needed to indicate their preference. A comma splice occurs when two independent clauses are joined with just a comma. One common type of run-on sentence is a comma splice. Sentence 2: I would write one every day if I had the time. There are two complete sentences in the above example: Sentence 1: I love to write papers. Example: I love to write papers I would write one every day if I had the time. If you are telling a story, a few fragments might suit your purpose and style well, but if you are writing an essay or crafting a business document, it’s best to steer clear of them.A run-on sentence occurs when two or more independent clauses (also known as complete sentences) are connected improperly. And he did is a sentence beginning with a conjunction, and it’s a one-sentence paragraph.Īs always, judge for yourself who your audience is and how much wiggle room you have for breaking the rules. Your high school English teacher would find three things wrong with this description. All the same, he was determined to astound us. No one thought that Ethan could make the jump it was just too high.

Journalists, bloggers, and fiction writers often use them. That said, a fragment within a clear context can sometimes serve a valid dramatic purpose. Without question, you should avoid sentence fragments in formal situations and academic writing. READ MORE: When (and how) to fix sentence fragments Stylistic sentence fragments Fragments can sound as if they are carelessly blurted out. It’s a subtle psychological difference, but if you are corresponding in a formal setting, it is worth taking care to write complete sentences. Adding the subject will build a stronger, more confident-sounding sentence: Another famous example of a short-but-complete sentence is “Jesus wept.”Īvoiding sentence fragments not only makes your writing easier to read, but it can also make you sound more polished in polite correspondence. Nothing in the sentence demands further explanation. I ran may be a short thought, but it has a subject ( I) and a verb ( ran). But that doesn’t mean that short sentences can’t be complete. In that example, making the sentence longer was the solution. Now the fragment has become a dependent clause attached to a sentence that has a subject ( the party) and a verb ( was canceled). To complete it, we need further explanation:īecause of the rain, the party was canceled. It leaves us wondering what happened because of the rain. On its own, because of the rain doesn’t form a complete thought. Here is a glaring example of a sentence fragment: For example, you could hide under their beds and wait for dark.īoth remedies result in structurally sound sentences. There are many ways to frighten little brothers.

What does sentence fragment mean