COMMON SENTENCE ERRORS
A complete sentence communicates a complete thought. To do so, it has
unity. The parts of a sentence must be related to one main idea. Lack of unity causes major sentence structure errors.
unity. The parts of a sentence must be related to one main idea. Lack of unity causes major sentence structure errors.
THE INCOMPLETE SENTENCE (IS)
An incomplete sentence does not express a complete thought. It begins with a capital and ends with a period; however, the subject or predicate, or both, have been omitted.
To avoid IS errors, do not begin a sentence with connecting words (because, before, as ... ), unless an independent clause appears in the same sentence. Do not use dependent adjective and adverbial clauses as sentences.
Incorrect: Because we were late. We missed math. [incomplete].
Correct: Because we were late, we missed math.
[complete, complex sentence]
We were late and we missed math. [complete, compound sentence]
We were late. We missed math. [complete, simple sentences]
In elliptical sentences, grammatically important words are omitted because they are not required to make the meaning clear. An elliptical sentence is not an incomplete sentence. They often appear as answers to questions or in dialogue.
Examples: [You] Go home. How old are you? [I am] Sixteen.
THE FUSED SENTENCE (FS):
End punctuation marks (. ? !) and semicolons (;) separate complete sentences. If you do not use any punctuation to end a complete sentence, a fused sentence error occurs.
There are four methods used to correct fused sentences:
1. Insert appropriate end punctuation (. ? !).
Incorrect: I like hockey I play every week.
Correct: I like hockey. I play every week.
2. Join the complete sentences with a conjunction (and, or .....)
Incorrect: I like journals I write one every week.
Correct: I like journals and 1 write one every week.
3. Insert a semicolon between the principal clauses it they are closely related in thought.
Incorrect: Traps are cages cages are prisons.
Correct: Traps are cages; cages are prisons.
4. Change a principal clause into a subordinate one.
Incorrect: The teacher said I skipped she was wrong!
Correct: The teacher, who said I skipped, was wrong.
Comma Splice Errors (CS):
If two complete sentences are separated by a comma, a comma
splice error occurs. A comma is too weak to function as an end punctuation mark.
Comma denotes pauses within a sentence. They separate phrases and subordinate clauses from principal clauses, and they also appear between two main clauses joined by conjunctions. Commas also appear between items in any parallel series.
There are four methods used to correct comma splice errors:
1. Replace the comma with appropriate end punctuation (. ? !)
Incorrect: I like to write, I write well.
Correct: I like to write. I write well.
2. Join the complete sentences with a conjunction (and, or ... )
Incorrect: I opened the door, I walked into the yard.
Correct: I opened the door and I walked into the yard.
3. Insert a semicolon between the principal clauses if they are closely related in thought.
Incorrect: 1 had homework last night, 1 have homework tonight.
Correct: I had homework last night; 1 have homework tonight.
4. Rephrase the sentence, changing a principal clause into a subordinate one.
Incorrect: I'm a logical person, I'm good at math.
Correct: Since I'm a logical person, I'm good at math.
Incorrect: Susan ran into the room, she was late again.
Correct: Susan, who was late again, ran into the room.
