Mechanics

Run-ons and Comma Splices

A run-on consists of incorrectly joined independent clauses or too many clauses.

Example: I left and Paul arrives.
Since no comma appears before the conjunction that separates the two independent clauses, this example is a run-on.
 
Example: I left, and Paul arrived, but we saw each other along the way, and we decided to exchange phone numbers, so we could meet for lunch later that week.
This example has too many clauses.
 
To correct run-on sentences, use a comma and a coordination conjunction or separate the independent clauses into sentences.

Example: I left, and Paul arrived.
Example: I left. Paul arrived.
Example: I left, and Paul arrived. However, we saw each other along the way. We decided to exchange phone numbers, so we could meet for lunch later that week.
 
A comma splice is only different from a run-on in that a comma is used without a conjunction when joining two independent clauses.

Example: I left, Paul arrived.
In this case, no conjunction appears after the comma that separates the independent clauses.
 
To correct a comma splice, use a comma and a coordinating conjunction to join independent clauses.

Fragments

A fragment is a group of words without a subject or verb; it can also be a dependent clause that is not attached to an independent clause.
 
Example: Went to the store.
Who went to the store? This has no subject.
 
Example: Paul.
What about him? This has no verb.
 
Example: After surveying the landscape for forty-five minutes and deciding that the area was secure enough to walk through.
What happened? This thought is incomplete because “After” indicates a dependent clause, but the clause gives no resolution. This clause needs an independent clause.
 
Example: To follow in the path of righteousness.
This noun phrase needs a verb or needs to be grouped behind a subject and a verb.
 
To correct a fragment, add the necessary components to make an independent clause or attach the words to another sentence to complete the thought.
 
Example: After surveying the landscape for forty-five minutes and deciding that the area was secure enough to walk through, Paul went to the store.
 
Example: To follow in the path of righteousness is wise.

Exercise for Fragments and Run-ons

Identify whether each of the examples is a fragment, run-on, or sentence.

1. During the robbery, the crook left behind his gun, wallet, and keys and the police were then able to identify him.

Fragment Run-on Sentence

2. After calling her boss and telling him that she no longer needed that job to fulfill the various needs of her life, which has been tumultuous since she moved away from home.

Fragment Run-on Sentence

3. First, stir the boiling broth, then let it cool.

Fragment Run-on Sentence

4. Wash the car.

Fragment Run-on Sentence

5. Bill and his friend went looking for used books they did not find any.

Fragment Run-on Sentence

6. The people who live at the end of the block and never properly dispose of their garbage, which ends up all over the street until their neighbors clean the mess up.

Fragment Run-on Sentence

7. Do the laundry, then you can go to the party.

Fragment Run-on Sentence

8. Since no one answer exists to the question that keeps him up at night and no one person who can help him overcome the obstacles before him.

Fragment Run-on Sentence

9. For all of those who have helped me achieve the dream of becoming a professional basket weaver and to all of those who said that I could not make a proper living doing what I love best.

Fragment Run-on Sentence

10. I can.

Fragment Run-on Sentence
 
Answers
1. Run-on (needs a comma before "and the police")
2. Fragment (no independent clause)
3. Run-on (comma splice that joins independent clauses incorrectly)
4. Sentence
5. Run-on (independent clauses joined incorrectly)
6. Fragment (no verb for the independent clause)
7. Run-on (comma splice)
8. Fragment (no independent clause)
9. Fragment (no independent clause)
10. Sentence.

Agreement

A subject and verb must agree in number (A singular noun needs and singular verb, and a plural noun needs a plural verb).
 
Example: Bob dates Staci.  Vegans do not eat meat.
 
Do not be confused by the separation of noun from verb; in most cases, only the noun matters.
 
Example: The pair of pants is one the bed ("pair" is singular as is "is").
Example: The teacher as well as the students is present ("teacher" is all that affects the verb).
 
Do not be confused by words following the verb.
 
Example: The main crop is carrots (While "carrots" is plural, "crop" is the singular subject).
 
Be careful with "or" and "nor."  The noun closest to the verb affects the verb.
 
Example: The mother or her children are coming to register. 
Example: The children or their mother is coming to register.
 
Be wary of indefinite pronouns. 
Anyone, everyone, each, no one, someone, something, and none (when meaning not one) are singular.
Some, all, any, or none can be singular or plural, depending on what they refer to.
 
Example: Everyone is in his or her home.
Example: Something has to be done.
Example: Each of the students has a test on Tuesday.
Example: Some of the flowers are dead.  Some of the work is done.
Example: All of the smoke has cleared.  All of the steroids are illegal.
 
Collective nouns can be treated as singular or plural, depending on the context.
 
Example: The class has decided to do the extra credit (one unit).
Example: The class go their separate ways after school (individuals).
 
Pronouns and their antecedents must also agree.
 
Example: Everyone sleeps in his or her own bed.  People sleep in their beds.
Example: A student must learn to correct his or her mistakes.  Students must learn to correct their mistakes.
Example: Either the traps or the mouse will have its day.  Either the mouse or the traps will have their day.
 
Collective pronouns agree in the same manner as do collective nouns.
 
Example: The group give its opinion (one unit's opinion).
Example: The group gave their opinions (individuals' opinions).
 

Sentence Clarity

To make a sentence clear, make sure that dependent clauses and limiters are closest to the words they modify and do not use unclear pronoun references.
 
Example: After opening the refrigerator, it shut down (The refrigerator opened itself?). 
 
To clarify, make the subject of the independent clause the same as the subject of the introductory clause.
 
After opening the refrigerator, I heard it shut down.
 
Watch the placement of limiters; they change the meaning of the sentence.
 
Example: Only I go to school on Wednesdays (No one else in the world does).
Example: I only go to school on Wednesdays (I do nothing else on that day).
Example: I go to school only on Wednesdays (I go to school on no other days).
 
Avoid pronouns without references.
 
Example: There is a problem (Where is a problem?).
Example: It is clear that a problem exists (To what does "it" refer?).
 
To avoid unclear pronoun references, remove "there" and "it" when they refer to nothing.
 
Example: A problem exists.
Example: Clearly, a problem exists.
 

Active and Passive Voice

Active voice means that the subject of the sentence is doing the action.  Passive voice means that the object of the sentence behind a preposition, even if no prepositional phrase is present, is doing the action.
 
Example:  I threw the ball (active).
Example: The ball was thrown by me (passive).
Example: The package has been sent (passive, no object).
 
To recognize passive voice, use three clues. 
  1. Check if the subject is doing the action.
  2. Check the verb.  Passive voice verbs require a helping verb and the 3rd form of a verb.
  3. Check the object of the preposition.  If the object after "by" or "to" is actually doing the action of the sentence, then the sentence is passive.
For clarity and efficiency, stay in active voice as much as possible.  To change a sentence to active, make the actor the subject, simplify the verb, and make the receiver the object.
 
Example:  The word pairs were read to the learner by the scientist (passive, 11 words).
Example: The scientist read the word pairs to the learner (active, 9 words).
 
Passive voice is acceptable when the actor is unknown.
 
Example:  The building was renovated in 2001 (We do not know who did the renovation).
 
Passive voice is acceptable in scientific writing to avoid 1st person.
 
Example:  The experiment was run four times ("I" ran the experiment).