Correcting Common Sentence Errors

1. Correcting Common Sentence Errors Finding and Fixing Comma Splices, Run-Ons and Fragments

2. Do you want papers with less red marks?

3. This workshop will: • Help you identify common sentence errors • Give you easy ways to make corrections • Enable you to develop your own personal editing checklist

4. This workshop will NOT: • Make your sentence errors disappear • Guarantee “A” papers But it will help you get closer to your goal of less red, more well said

5. Examine the following: • In addition, ObafemiAwolowo was a leader who believe that the state should trench in Nigeria resources for example, he introduced free primary education and free health care in the Western Region. • Citizens who had worked hard over the year are being recognized with an award for their service to the nation these citizens celebrate with their leaders. • FruNdi stood up, no matter what, and formed a political party to challenge the dictator. • Traditional dances with different colors of dressing.

6. First Example • Identify subjects and verbs • What is the relationship? • Think about Ideas • Why did the author believe these ideas should be connected? • Identify sentence type • Comma used between two independent clauses

7. Second Example • Identify subjects and verbs • What is the relationship? • Think about Ideas • Why did the author believe these ideas should be connected? • Identify sentence type • No punctuation between clauses

8. Third Example • Identify subjects and verbs • What is the relationship? • Think about Ideas • Why did the author believe these ideas should be connected? • Identify sentence type • Compound sentence

9. Fourth Example • Identify subjects and verbs • What is the relationship? • Think about Ideas • Why did the author believe these ideas should be connected? • Identify sentence type • An incomplete thought

10. Comma Splice • Very common error • Using a comma incorrectly to separate independent thoughts • Commas have specific uses • Link to Comma Rule power point • Commas can never separate independent clauses in academic writing

11. Run-On • Punctuation is necessary for reader to process ideas. • Separating or joining independent and/or dependent clauses follows specific rules for punctuation.

12. Correcting Run-Ons and Comma Splices • Four ways • Add punctuation that separates (period [full stop], exclamation, semi-colon) • Use a comma and FANBOYS • Use a semi-colon and a transitional word • Create a dependent clause, using appropriate punctuation

13. Fragment • An incomplete thought • Leaves the reader with a question • Requires either • A subject • A real verb • An independent clause • Removal of dependent word

14. A Subject • What is a subject? • Usually a noun or noun phrase • Autumn • The very messy room • A verbal • Eating lots of candy • To debate • A clause • The woman who walks to work everyday • How ever long it takes • All sentences in English require a subject except commands.

15. A Real Verb • What is a real verb? • An action or feeling word that is conjugated correctly • talks • will have been developed • Not a verbal • He running down the field • -ing only becomes a verb with the helping verb BE • Sheto take classes this semester

16. Practice • Review the following collection of words. • Determine sentence type or • Determine structural error • If there is an error, how can you correct it?

17. Practice • Insert examples here

18. Recognition and Correction • In your own writing, be aware: • Clauses and Phrases • Sentence Types • Avoid three common structural errors • Comma Splice • Run-On • Fragment