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Fragments and Run-ons
Avoid writing FRAGMENTS and RUN-ONs
Fragments and run-ons are the most common sentence errors
writers make.
FRAGMENTS
Fragments are incomplete sentences. Though used in informal
writing and fiction, they should be avoided in college papers.
| EX: |
|
Tom works until midnight |
|
complete sentence |
| |
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Tom working until midnight |
|
fragment (incomplete verb) |
| |
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Works until midnight |
|
fragment (subject missing) |
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Because Tom works until midnight |
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fragment (incomplete thought) |
REMEMBER: Sentences must express a
complete thought and contain a subject and complete verb.
The term fragment is a bit misleading because it suggests a
small item. But fragments can be of any length. In proofreading,
don’t skim your paper looking for short items. A sentence can
consist of a single word:
| Run! |
|
|
(the subject You is implied in commands) |
Fragments can be longer than a sentence:
Jamal studied for hours. (sentence)
While Jamal studied for hours. (fragment)
THE BEST TEST FOR FRAGMENTS IS TO READ YOUR PAPER ALOUD.
DOES EACH SENTENCE EXPRESS A COMPLETE THOUGHT?
RUN-ONS
Run-ons are fused sentences or incorrectly joined compound sentences
Sentences or complete thoughts can be joined in two ways:
1) Link with semicolon [;]
2) Link with comma [,] & and, or, yet, but, so
| EX: |
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I asked no one answered. |
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run-on |
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I asked. No one answered. |
|
OK (two sentences) |
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I asked; no one answered. |
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OK (sentences joined with semicolon) |
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I asked, but no one answered. |
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OK (sentences linked with comma/but) |
Run-on sentences are easy to write, especially when you are
writing quickly.
REPAIRING RUN-ONS
- Identify possible run-ons by reading the sentence aloud.
Can you draw a line through it any point to create two or
more complete sentences?
EX:
Jamal went to medical school, and his sister went
to law school.
Jamal went to medical school/, and his sister went
to law school.
- Check to see if the two or more separate sentences are
properly connected. Where you draw the line you should see
a semicolon [;] or a comma [,] with and,
or, yet, but, so.
- If the sentence is incorrectly punctuated, read the sentence
aloud. Should these two separate elements be connected?
Should they be simply linked with a semicolon, or would
a word like "and" or "but" better represent the relationship
between ideas?
Return to top
From The
Sundance Reader, Third Edition, Web Site by Mark
Connelly.
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