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Two of the most common problems in writing are sentence fragments and run-on sentences. These are both structural errors that greatly inhibit the flow of ideas within a paragraph, so it is important to know how to avoid them.
Sentence Fragments
Fragments are issues that happen when an incomplete sentence is punctuated as if it were complete. Very often, these fragments can be fixed by linking them to a main clause (complete sentence) or by adding words to make the sentence complete. Before you can repair these fragments, you have to know what to look for (more tips on https://writemyessaycheap.us/ ).
1) The sentence must have a main subject. Example: John is the valedictorian of his class. Worked hard every year of school.The second sentence is the fragment because it lacks a subject. Despite "John" being established as the subject in the previous sentence, his name or a pronoun must still be included in the second to make the sentence complete.Example: John is the valedictorian of his class. He worked hard every year of school.
2) The sentence must have a predicate (a word or phrase that contains the main verb)Example: John achieving the highest scores on all his exams."Achieving" is a verb, but in this case, the sentence is missing the auxiliary verb that is required to complete the predicate and clarify the meaning.Example: John was achieving the highest scores on all his exams.
3) The sentence lacks a complete predicate.Example: The determined John.The word "determined" is classified as a verbal, or a word that looks like a verb but functions as a noun, adjective, or adverb; it is an adjective in this sentence. Therefore, the fragment must be attached to a predicate to finish the thought.Example: The determined John spent many hours studying on nights and weekends.
4) The sentence is a subordinate clause (a group of words that lack a main subject and predicate) and is the most common fragment mistake.Example: When John applied to Harvard.As it reads, the clause is missing valuable information to address what happened when John applied to Harvard. To repair this problem, you will need to include a comma after the subordinate clause, and then a pronoun (main subject) and predicate.Example: When John applied to Harvard, he (pronoun) knew (predicate) he had a chance of being accepted.
Run-on Sentences
A run-on sentence occurs when two main clauses (complete sentences) are joined together as if they were one sentence. There are two different types:
1) Using a comma to separate the two main clauses. This is also called a comma splice.Example: There are so many books that I would love to read, I just don't have the time.
2) Using no punctuation and just linking the sentences together.Example: There are so many books that I would love to read I just don't have the time.
There are four ways to appropriately correct a run-on sentence.
1) Add end punctuation after the first main clause.Example: There are so many books that I would love to read. I just don't have the time.
2) Separate the clauses with a semi-colon.Example: There are so many books that I would love to read; I just don't have the time.A semi-colon acts as a period between two complete sentences that are related in topic.
3) Separate the clauses with both a comma and a coordinating conjunction.Example: There are so many books that I would love to read, but I just don't have the time.The coordinating conjunctions are listed as: and, but, or, nor, for, so, yet.4) Add a semi-colon and a conjunctive adverb between the two main clauses.Example: There are so many books that I would love to read; however, I just don't have the time.
Because sentence fragments make writing sound choppy and run-ons make writing lengthy and confusing, it is important to find these two common errors when you go back through your piece to edit.
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