Wordiness
He dropped out of school on account of the fact that it was necessary for him to help support his family.
He dropped out of school to support his family.
Fix the comma splice
Incorrect: I like this class, it is very interesting.
I like this class. It is very interesting.
I like this class; it is very interesting.
I like this class, and it is very interesting.
I like this class because it is very interesting.
Because it is very interesting, I like this class.
Marking a C if the all complete and an F if any of the sentences in the group is a fragment.
Then I attended Morris Junior High. A junior high that was a bad experience.
F (dependent clause)
What type of sentence creates a run on, comma splice, or fused sentence?
Run-ons, comma splices, and fused sentences are all names given to compound sentences that are not punctuated correctly. The best way to avoid such errors is to punctuate compound sentences correctly by using one or the other of these rules.
Choose the correct form of the verb that agrees with the subject.
Annie and her brothers (is, are) at school.
Annie and her brothers are at school.
Sometimes Stan went running with Blanche. She was a good athlete. She was on the track team at school.
Sometimes Stan went running with Blanche, a good athlete on the track team at school.
Incorrect: My professor is intelligent I've learned a lot from her.
My professor is intelligent. I've learned a lot from her.
My professor is intelligent; I've learned a lot from her.
My professor is intelligent, and I've learned a lot from her.
My professor is intelligent; moreover, I've learned a lot from her.
Marking a C if the all complete and an F if any of the sentences in the group is a fragment.
She opened the door and let us into her home. Not realizing at the time that we would never enter that door in her home again.
F (dependent clause)
Fix the sentence.
He enjoys walking through the country. He often goes backpacking on his vacations.
He enjoys walking through the country, and he often goes backpacking on his vacations.
Choose the correct form of the verb that agrees with the subject.
Either my mother or my father (is, are) coming to the meeting.
Either my mother or my father is coming to the meeting.
Taylor brought some candy back from Europe. It wasn't shaped like American candy. The candy tasted kind of strange to him.
Taylor brought some strange-tasting candy back from Europe that wasn't shaped like American candy.
Incorrect: Because I forgot the exam was today.
Because I forgot the exam was today, I didn't study.
I forgot the exam was today.
These paragraphs need proofreading for possible fragments. Identify the fragment and make the change.
How can a person find patriotism in a local night club? Well, it did not take me too long. About four weeks ago in a little night club in Louisville, Kentucky, a couple of my friends, Rick and Lon, the duo who were providing the entertainment that night for the club.
Dependent Clause
How can a person find patriotism in a local night club? Well, it did not take me too long. About four weeks ago in a little night club in Louisville, Kentucky, a couple of my friends, Rick and Lon, the duo who were providing the entertainment that night for the club, opened with the Star Spangled Banner and then America, the Beautiful.
What is a run-on or fused sentence?
Run-ons and fused sentences are terms describing two independent clauses that are joined together with no connecting word or punctuation to separate the clauses.
Choose the correct form of the verb that agrees with the subject.
The movie, including all the previews, (take, takes) about two hours to watch.
The movie, including all the previews, takes about two hours to watch.
Fix the sentence.
Government leaders like to mention the creation of new jobs. They claim that these new jobs indicate a strong economy. They don't mention that low-wage jobs without benefits and security have replaced many good jobs.
Government leaders like to mention the creation of new jobs, claiming that these jobs indicate a strong economy, but ignoring the fact that low-wage jobs without benefits and security have replaced many good jobs.
What is a comma splice?
A comma splice is the use of a comma between two independent clauses. You can usually fix the error by changing the comma to a period and making the two clauses into two separate sentences, by changing the comma to a semicolon, or by making one clause dependent by inserting a dependent marker word in front of it.
What is a sentence fragment?
Sentence fragments happen by treating a dependent clause or other incomplete thought as a complete sentence. You can usually fix this error by combining it with another sentence to make a complete thought or by removing the dependent marker.
Fix the sentence.
They weren't dangerous criminals they were detectives in disguise.
They weren't dangerous criminals; they were detectives in disguise.
(Is, Are) the tweezers in this drawer?
Are the tweezers in this drawer?
Fix this sentence.
A campus rally was attended by more than a thousand students. Five students were arrested by campus police for disorderly conduct, while several others are charged by campus administrators with organizing a public meeting without being issued a permit to do so.
Five out of more than a thousand students at a campus rally were arrested for disorderly conduct, and several others were charged by campus administrators with organizing a public meeting without a permit.
What is a fused sentence?
Fused sentences happen when there are two independent clauses not separated by any form of punctuation. This error is also known as a run-on sentence. The error can sometimes be corrected by adding a period, semicolon, or colon to separate the two sentences.
The following paragraph has no capital letters or periods to mark the beginnings and ends of sentences. Add capitals, periods, commas, and/or other punctuation that may be needed to make the word groups into complete sentences. Your goal is to be sure that there are no fragments.
...
my brother was always my best friend when I was a child especially as we two were almost alone in the world we lived with our old grandmother in a little house, almost a shack, in the country whenever I think of him now I see a solemn, responsible boy a boy too old for his years who looked out for me no matter what once there was a bully John Anson who looked enormous to me though he was probably an average twelve-year-old John had it in for me because he liked Littice Grant who liked me he decided to beat me up right before her eyes I was lucky my brother came by he didn't interfere any he just stood there somehow though his presence gave me confidence I kicked the stuffing out of John Anson if my brother hadn't been there I don't think I could have done it.
My brother was always my best friend when I was a child, especially as we two were almost alone in the world. We lived with our old grandmother in a little house, almost a shack, in the country. Whenever I think of him now, I see a solemn, responsible boy, a boy too old for his years, who looked out for me no matter what. Once there was a bully, John Anson, who looked enormous to me, though he was probably an average twelve-year-old. John had it in for me because he liked Littice Grant, who liked me. He decided to beat me up right before her eyes. I was lucky my brother came by. He didn't interfere any. He just stood there. Somehow, though, his presence gave me confidence. I kicked the stuffing out of John Anson. If my brother hadn't been there, I don't think I could have done it.
Fix the sentence.
I didn't know which job I wanted I was too confused to decide.
I didn't know which job I wanted, so I was too confused to decide.
All of the CDs, even the scratched one, (is, are) in this case.
All of the CDs, even the scratched one, are in this case.