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.
2
Fragments
FRAGMENT
A group of words that
does not express a completed thought.
3
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.
4
Intentional Fragments
From 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.
5
Intentional Fragments
From 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
Fragments
from 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.
– Incorrect
The 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 Fragments
from 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 FRAGMENTS
I 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.
REVISED
I 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.
8
Fragments
from John McKernan’s The Writer’s Handbook, 2nd ed.
A group of words can contain a subject and a verb and still be a
fragment:
• 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.
9
Revising Fragments
from 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.
10
Revising Fragments
from 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.
--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.
11
Revising Fragments
from 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.
--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.
12
Revising Fragments
from John McKernan’s The Writer’s Handbook, 2nd ed., and Martha Kolln’s Understanding
English Grammar, 4th Edition
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.
13
Revising Fragments
from John McKernan’s The Writer’s Handbook, 2nd ed., and Martha Kolln’s Understanding
English Grammar, 4th Edition
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.
14
Revising Fragments
from John McKernan’s The Writer’s Handbook, 2nd ed., and Martha Kolln’s Understanding
English Grammar, 4th Edition
•
•
•
•
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.
15
Revising Fragments
from John McKernan’s The Writer’s Handbook, 2nd ed., and Martha Kolln’s Understanding
English Grammar, 4th Edition
•
•
•
•
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.
16
Run-On/Fused Sentences
from 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 SENTENCE
A sentence construction error that occurs
when two independent clauses
(complete sentences)
are not separated by a
coordinating conjunction
or any punctuation
17
Run-On/Fused Sentences
from 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.
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.
18
Run-On/Fused Sentences
from 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.
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.
19
Run-On/Fused Sentences
from 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.
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.
20
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 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.
Revision 2: Add a semicolon
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.
21
Revising Run-On Sentences
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 semicolon
Ethan didn’t show up for class until it was half over; then he asked the
professor if he could leave early.
22
Run-On/Fused Sentences
from 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.
23
Revising Run-On Sentences
•
•
•
•
•
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.
24
Comma Splices/Comma Faults
from John McKernan’s The Writer’s Handbook, 2nd ed.
COMMA SPLICE aka
COMMA 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.
25
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.
26
Revising Comma Splices
from 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.
27
Revising Comma Splices
from 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.
28
Comma Splices
from 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 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.
29
Comma Splice Revisions
from 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 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.
Revision 2: Add a semicolon
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.
30
A Few Exceptions
from 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?
31
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
32
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
33
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.
34
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.
35