COMMA SPLİCE
A Comma Splice incorrectly joins two
independent clauses with a comma
but no conjuction.
Examples:
1.My neighbor Mr.Hoffman is seventy- five
years old,he plays tennis every Saturday
afternoon.
Corrected:My neighbor Mr.Hoffman is
seventy- five years old.He plays tennis every
Saturday afternoon.
2.It was an astonishing exhibit,the
Guggenheim Museum’s recent show was
called “The Art of the Motorcycle.”
Corrected: It was an astonishing exhibit.The
Guggenheim Museum’s recent show was
called “The Art of the Motorcycle.”
3.Museumgoers sported leather vests and
ponytails,their motorcycles jammed New York City
streets.
Corrected:Museumgoers sported leather vests and
ponytails.Their motorcycles jammed New York City
streets.
4.That was the 1868 French velocipede,it looked more
like a bicycle with a steam engine under the seat than a
motorcycle.
Corrected:That was the 1868 French velocipede. It
looked more like a bicycle with a steam engine under
the seat than a motorcycle.
5.Will Kellogg was an unlikely candidate for fame and
fortune,he became one of America’s great successes.
Corrected:Will Kellogg was an unlikely candidate for fame and
fortune. He became one of America’s great successes.
6.In 1880,Will was twenty years old, Dr. John hired him to
work at the resort.
Corrected: In 1880,Will was twenty years old. Dr. John hired
him to work at the resort.
9.Isabel Allende has survived many political and
personal tragedies,most of those events have found
there way into her books.
Corrected:Isabel Allende has survived many political
and personal tragedies. Most of those events have
found there way into her books.
10.By 1955,Richard had developed his own musical
style,it combined gospel with rhythm and blues.
Corrected:By 1955,Richard had developed his own
musical style. It combined gospel with rhythm and
blues.
7.The rest is history today
Scrabble is produced in half a
dozen foreign languages it is also
used as a learning tool.
Corrected:The rest is history
today Scrabble is produced in half
a dozen foreign languages. It is
also used as a learning tool.
8.Everyone knows that Scrabble is
America’s favorite word game,it
was invented by Alfred Butts.
Corrected:Everyone knows that
Scrabble is America’s favorite
word game. It was invented by
Alfred Butts.
RUN-ON SENTENCE
A run-on sentence incorrectly runs together
two independent clauses without a
conjunction or punctuation.This error
confuses the reader,who cannot tell where
one thought stops and the next begins.
The run-on and the comma splice can be
corrected in five ways:
Use two separate sentences.
Use a coordinating conjuction.
Use a subortinating conjuction.
Use a semicolon.
Use a semicolon and a conjuctive adverb.
EXAMPLES:
1.The Italian MV Agusta F4 was the latest model on display
this one looked like a fantastic space machine.
Corrected:The Italian MV Agusta F4 was the latest model on
display;therefore, this one looked like a fantastic space
machine.
2.The show attracted more visitors than any other
Guggenheim exhibit museum attendance was 45 percent
higher than usual.
Corrected:The show attracted more visitors than any other
Guggenheim exhibit; museum attendance was 45 percent
higher than usual.
3. Marriage is a serious step, they want to get to know
each other as well as possible.
Corrected:Marriage is a serious step;therefore, they
want to get to know each other as well as possible.
4.His father pulled him from school at the age of
thirteen he made Will a traveling broom salesman for
the family company.
Corrected:His father pulled him from school at the age
of thirteen;he made Will a traveling broom salesman
for the family company.
5.He treated his patients with exercise and a strict
vegeterian diet he wrote best-selling books about
healthful living.
Corrected:He treated his patients with exercise and a
strict vegeterian diet;then,he wrote best-selling books
about healthful living.
6.John bicycled to work,Will jogged alongside getting
his daily work orders.
Corrected:John bicycled to work,but Will jogged
alongside getting his daily work orders.
7.Dr.John was a wealthy man,he never paid Will more
than eighty-seven dollars a month.
Corrected:Although Dr.John was a wealthy man,he
never paid Will more than eighty-seven dollars a
month.
8.In 1906,Will finally bought out John’s share of the
cereal patents,struck out on his own.
Corrected: In 1906,Will finally bought out John’s share
of the cereal patents and struck out on his own.
9.Butts made fifty Scrabble sets by hand he gave them
to his friends.
Corrected:Butts made fifty Scrabble sets by hand,and
he gave them to his friends.
10.Butts and Brunot couldn’t keep up with the
demand,they sold the rights to a game manufacturer.
Corrected:Butts and Brunot couldn’t keep up with the
demand;they sold the rights to a game manufacturer.
NON-PARALLEL SENTENCES
Non-Parallel structure does not add
both clout and clarity to your writing.
When you use parallel structure, you
increase the readability of your
writing by creating word patterns
readers can follow easily.
EXAMPLES:
1.John Taylor Gatto criticizes public schools because they are
compulsory, funded
by the government, and destroy students' humanity.
Corrected:John Taylor Gatto criticizes public schools because
they require students to attend, receive money from the
government, and destroy students' humanity.
2. He described skiing in the Alps, swimming in the Adriatic,
and the drive across the Sahara Desert.
Corrected:He described skiing in the Alps, swimming in the
Adriatic, and driving across the Sahara Desert.
3.He spoke more of his term as ambassador than being
president.
Corrected:He spoke more of being ambassador than of
being president.
4. The schools in the rural area are smaller than the
inner city.
Corrected:The schools in the rural area are smaller than
the schools in the inner city.
5. The scientists disputed not only the newspaper
article but also they disputed the university's official
statement.
Corrected:The scientists disputed not only the
newspaper article but also the university's official
statement.
6. I have neither the patience to complete the
assignment nor do I have the time complete it.
Corrected:I have neither the patience nor the time to
complete the assignment.
7. They acted as either individual citizens or as
members of the committee.
Corrected:They acted either as individual citizens or as
members of the committee.
8. Kate prepared the speech on the plane, and it was
delivered by her at the conference.
Corrected:Kate prepared the speech on the plane and
delivered it at the conference.
9. Robert has in the past and will in the future continue
to support the measure.
Corrected:Robert has in the past supported, and will in
the future continue to support, the measure.
OR
Robert has supported the measure in the past, and he
will continue to support it in the future.
10. What counts isn't how you look but your behavior.
Corrected:What counts isn't how you look but how you
behave.
SENTENCE FRAGMENTS
Another error to avoid is the sentence
fragment.A sentence must contain a subject
and a verb and must be able to stand alone
as a complate idea.A sentence
fragment,therefore,can be defined in terms
of what it lacks:either a subject or a verb,or
both-it cannot stand alone as a complete
idea.
EXAMPLES:
1.Kirk decided to major in psychology.Because human
behavior had always fascinated him.
Corrected:Kirk decided to major in psychology because
human behavior had always fascinated him.
2.Mrs.Costa is a chemistry teacher who never runs out
of creative ideas.Who has the ability to keep her classes
involved throughout the lesson.
Corrected:Mrs.Costa is a chemistry teacher who never
runs out of creative ideas and who has the ability to
keep her classes involved throughout the lesson.
3.Daniel can always be seen on the track in the
morning. Running a mile or two before breakfast.
Corrected:Daniel can always be seen on the track in the
morning,running a mile or two before breakfast.
4.A fine pianist.Marsha won a scholarship to Juilliard.
Corrected:A fine pianist,Marsha won a scholarship to
Juilliard.
5.Laura has always wanted to become a travel agent.To
tell people about exotic countries that they might visit.
Corrected:Laura has always wanted to become a travel
agent and to tell people about exotic countries that
they might visit.
6.Throughout its exciting history.The Regent diamond
has been one of the world’s most desired jewels.
Corrected:Throughout its exciting history,the Regent
diamond has been one of the world’s most desired
jewels.
7.In 1701,the 410-carat gem was discovered in an Indian mine
by a slave.Who risked his life to smuggle it out.
Corrected:In 1701,the 410-carat gem was discovered in an
Indian mine by a slave who risked his life to smuggle it out.
8.The merchant had difficulty unloading the diamond.Because
it was so large and because it was stolen.
Corrected:The merchant had difficulty unloading the diamond
because it was so large and because it was stolen.
9.He finally sold it to Robert Pitt,a young
Englishman.Who had come to India seeking his fortune.
Corrected:He finally sold it to Robert Pitt,a young
Englishman who had come to India seeking his fortune.
10.Whenever he carried the stone.He disguished
himself and would not sleep in the same place for more
than two nights.
Corrected:Whenever he carried the stone,he
disguished himself and would not sleep in the same
place for more than two nights.
References
Evergreen with Reading A guide to
Writing
Teacher:Asst. Prof. Dr.
Elif DEMİREL
Prepared by:Firuze Tuba AKSU
Student’s Number:265542
Project’s Subject:Common sentence
errors-Out of assignment for week 4-1st
year writing class