COMMON SENTENCE ERRORS

Comma splice Run-on sentence Non-parallel sentences Sentence fragments

COMMA SPLİCE Some say the comma splice is the

most common type of sentence error, but that should be good news for you! The comma splice is an error that is easy to identify and fix. A comma splice occurs when two independent clauses (clauses that could be sentences on their own) are jammed together with a comma.

EXAMPLES Incorrect: The Huns who were

Mongolian invaded Gaul in 451.

Revised: The Huns, who were Mongolian, invaded Gaul in 451.

Incorrect: Field trips are required, in several courses, such as, botany and geology. 

Revised: Field trips are required in several courses, such as botany and geology.

Incorrect:  Diseased coronary arteries are often surgically bypassed, however half of all bypass grafts fail within ten years.

Revised: Diseased coronary arteries are often surgically bypassed; however, half of all bypass grafts fail within ten years.

Incorrect: The term "scientific illiteracy," has become almost a cliche in educational circles. 

Revised: The term "scientific illiteracy" has become almost a cliche in educational circles

Incorrect: The baby is in his crib, he is sleeping.

Revised: The baby is in his crib; he is sleeping. (or) The baby is in his crib, and he is sleeping

Incorrect: When it comes to eating people differ in their tastes.

Revised: When it comes to eating, people differ in their tastes.

RUN-ON SENTENCERambling or run-on sentences are

sentences that contain several clauses connected by coordinating conjunctions such as: and, or, but, yet, for, nor, and so. A rambling sentence may appear to follow the technical rules of grammar in places, but the sentence as a whole is wrong because it rambles.

EXAMPLES Incorrect: The family drove to the

beach it was a beautiful day.

Revised: The family drove to the beach, and it was a beautiful day

Incorrect: The survey shows that more than 80% of the population agrees that racism is rife however only 12% of the population admits that they are racist.

Revised: The survey shows that more than 80% of the population agrees that racism is rife. However, only 12% of the population admits that they are racist.

Incorrect: More than 80% of the population agrees that racism is rife, 12% of the population admits that they are racist.

Revised: More than 80% of the population agrees that racism is rife; 12% of the population admits that they are racist.

Incorrect: They gossiped about many things at lunch they always have the most to say about their coworkers.

Revised: They gossiped about many things at lunch.They always have the most to say about their coworkers.

Incorrect: Fred fell down screaming when the smoke cleared we all expected to see a bloody mess.

Revised: Fred fell down screaming. The smoke cleared. We all expected to see a bloody mess.

Incorrect: I left town shortly after. Didn’t see him again for five years.

Revised: I left town shortly after and didn’t see him again for five years.

NON-PARALLEL SENTENCESOne portion of the SAT writing

test requires students to find and improve poorly-written sentences. It’s important for students to know what problems appear frequently within these sentences, in order to improve their chances of scoring well. One common sentence problem involves non-parallel structure.

EXAMPLES

Incorrect: The candidate’s goals include winning the election, a health program, and education.

Revised: The candidate’s goals include winning the election, enacting a national health program, and improving the educational system.

Incorrect: Some critics are not so much opposed to capital punishment as postponing it for so long.

Revised: Some critics are not so much opposed to sentencing convicts to capital punishment as they are to postponing executions for so long.

Incorrect: The teacher wanted to know which country we came from and our future goals.

Revised: The teacher wanted to know which country we came from and what our future goals were.

Incorrect: This report is an overview of the processes involved, the problems encountered, and how they were solved.

Revised: This report is an overview of the processes involved, the problems encountered, and the solutions devised

SENTENCE FRAGMENTSA sentence fragment is a

statement that cannot stand alone as a sentence, even though it might look like it should be able to. A sentence fragment may be lacking a subject, a verb, or both. It might even contain words that look like subjects and verbs.

EXAMPLES Incorrect: Tests of the Shroud of Turin

have produced some curious findings. For example, the pollen of forty-eight plants native to Europe and the Middle East.

Revised: Tests of the Shroud of Turin have produced some curious findings. For example, the cloth contains the pollen of forty-eight plants native to Europe and the Middle East.

Incorrect: Scientists report no human deaths due to excessive caffeine consumption. Although caffeine does cause convulsions and death in certain animals.

Revised: Scientists report no human deaths due to excessive caffeine consumption, although caffeine does cause convulsions and death in certain animals.

Incorrect: Because they are confusing and distracting to readers. 

Revised: Because they are confusing and distracting to readers, writers should generally avoid sentence fragments.

Incorrect: Although the result of the study was inconclusive.

Revised: Although the result of the study was inconclusive, the committee decided to implement the policy.

Incorrect: If the result of the study confirmed the writer’s hypothesis.

Revised: If the result of the study confirmed the writer’s hypothesis, it would be a major breakthrough in the world of biochemistry.

Incorrect: The dog was waiting in the window when his owner got home. Then, excited, wagging his tail. He went to greet her at the door. 

Revised: The dog was waiting in the window when his owner got home. Excited, he wagged his tail and went to greet her at the door.