Common sentence errors

1. Commonsentenceerrors Commasplice Run-on sentence Non-parallelsentences Sentencefragments

2. Commasplice • Some say thecommasplice is themostcommontype of sentenceerror, but thatshould be goodnewsforyou! Thecommasplice is an errorthat is easytoidentifyandfix. A commaspliceoccurswhentwoindependentclauses (clausesthatcould be sentences on theirown) arejammedtogetherwith a comma.

3. Examples • Incorrect: The Huns who were Mongolian invaded Gaul in 451. Revised: The Huns, who were Mongolian, invaded Gaul in 451.

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. 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

7. 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

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

9. Run-on sentence • Ramblingorrun-on sentencesaresentencesthatcontainseveralclausesconnectedbycoordinatingconjunctionssuch as: and, or, but, yet, for, nor, andso. A ramblingsentencemayappeartofollowthetechnicalrules of grammar in places, but thesentence as a whole is wrongbecause it rambles.

10. 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

11. 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.

12. 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.

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

14. 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.

15. 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.

16. Non-parallelsentences • Oneportion of the SAT writing test requiresstudentstofindandimprovepoorly-writtensentences. It’simportantforstudentstoknowwhatproblemsappearfrequentlywithinthesesentences, in ordertoimprovetheirchances of scoringwell. Onecommonsentence problem involvesnon-parallelstructure.

17. 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.

18. 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.

19. 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.

20. 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

21. Sentencefragments • A sentencefragment is a statementthatcannotstandalone as a sentence, eventhough it mightlooklike it should be ableto. A sentencefragmentmay be lacking a subject, a verb, orboth. Itmightevencontainwordsthatlooklikesubjectsandverbs.

22. 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.

23. 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.

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

25. 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.

26. 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.

27. 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.