Common Errors in Sentence Structure

1. CommonErrors in SentenceStructure Burak Demir – 285474KTU DELL Comma Splice Run-on Sentence Non-parallelSentences SentenceFragments

2. -Correcting Common Errors- CommonErrors in SentenceStructure Comma Splice Run-on Sentence Non-parallelSentences SentenceFragments

3. Comma Splice Comma splices entail the incorrect use of a comma (hence: comma splice) to join two (or more) independent clauses together in a single sentence. An independent clause is a part of a sentence that could stand alone. [Note: Although they can look alike and often coexist, a comma splice is not the same thing as a run-on sentence.] So, for example, this sentence contains a comma splice:I adopted a very cute new puppy, he ate my expensive shoes. (Independent clause) (,) (Independent clause)

4. I found a comma splice. How do I correct it? You have several options. Simply select the one that sounds best in a particular instance. Replace the comma with a semicolon Incorrect: We have hundreds of pages of reading to do, it will be impossible to finish it all before the exam. Correct: We have hundreds of pages of reading to do; it will be impossible to finish it all before the exam. Divide the comma-spliced sentence into smaller sentences, replacing the erroneous comma with appropriate ending punctuation. Incorrect: She wished she had some ice cream and because it was raining, she asked her roommate to drive her to the store, but she refused. Correct: She wished she had some ice cream. Because it was raining, she asked her roommate to drive her to the store, but she refused. Insert a coordinating conjunction after the comma. In case you don't know what a coordinating conjunction is, here's a list: and, but, so, or, nor, for, yet. Remember that then is not a coordinating conjunction. Incorrect: I tried to clean the house, I gave up and watched soap operas instead.Correct: I tried to clean the house, but I gave up and watched soap operas instead.  Instead of a using a comma alone to separate the independent clauses, rearrange the sentence into the following format: INDEPENDENT CLAUSE #1; CONJUNCTIVE ADVERB, INDEPENDENT CLAUSE #2. If you're wondering about conjunctive adverbs, these are some of the most common (though there are certainly more): however, moreover, consequently, for instance, therefore, nevertheless… Incorrect: They wanted to start a band, none of them knew how to sing. Correct: They wanted to start a band; however, none of them knew how to sing. Incorrect: Semicolons are my favorite kind of punctuation, they work especially well with conjunctive adverbs. Correct: Semicolons are my favorite kind of punctuation; moreover, they work especially well with conjunctive adverbs.

5. Run-on sentence A run-on sentence is a sentence in which several main clauses are strung together without proper punctuation and so run together as if they were one sentence. Run-on sentences make your reader's job difficult; they interrupt the rhythm of your writing and condense too much information into a small space. They gossiped about many things at lunch, they always have the most to say about their coworkers.(Independent clause) (,) (Independent clause)

6. If I find a run-on in my writing, what should I do?  Many of the same strategies that we use for correcting comma splices can be employed here. Separate the independent clauses into two sentences.Incorrect: They gossiped about many things at lunch, they always have the most to say about their coworkers.Correct: They gossiped about many things at lunch. They always have the most to say about their coworkers. If the ideas expressed in the clauses are connected, they can be joined with a semi-colon. Incorrect: They gossiped about many things at lunch, they always have the most to say about their coworkers.Correct: They gossiped about many things at lunch; they always have the most to say about their coworkers. Subordinate one of the clauses. That is, first employ a word or phrase as a subordinator like although, while, because, and whereas. Then, add commas where needed, and go from there. Incorrect: They gossiped about many things at lunch, they always have the most to say about their coworkers. Correct: Although they gossiped about many things at lunch, they always have the most to say about their coworkers.

7. Non-parallel sentences Parallelismin sentences refers to matching grammatical structures. Elements in a sentence that have the same function or express similar ideas should be grammatically parallel, or grammatically matched. Parallelism is used as a rhetorical and stylistic device in literature, speeches, advertising, and popular songs. He described skiing in the Alps, swimming in the Adriatic, and driving across the Sahara Desert.

8. The kinds of parallelism Faulty parallelism A failure to create grammatically parallel structures when they are appropriate is referred to as faultyparallelism. In the following examples, note the difference between correct parallel structure and faulty parallelism. Incorrect: What counts isn't how you look but how you behave.Correct: What counts isn't how you look but your behavior. 

9. The kinds of parallelism Parallel structure in a series When your sentence includes a series, make sure you have not used different grammatical structures for the items. Incorrect: He described skiing in the Alps, swimming in the Adriatic, and the driveacross the Sahara Desert. (faulty parallelism) Correct: He described skiing in the Alps, swimming in the Adriatic, and driving across the Sahara Desert. (parallel)  In the parallel version, all the elements in the series begin with gerunds: skiing, swimming, driving. In the nonparallel version, the final element is a noun but not a gerund. The elements would remain parallel even if the phrases following the gerunds were changed or omitted. The length of the items in the series does not affect the parallel structure.

10. The kinds of parallelism Parallel structure in comparisons and antithetical constructions When you are comparing items in a sentence, obviously parallelism will be important. Make sure that the elements you are comparing or contrasting are grammatically parallel. Incorrect: He spoke more of being ambassador than of being president. Correct: He spoke more of his term as ambassador than being president.  In antitheticalconstructions, something is true of one thing but not another. But not and rather than are used to set up these constructions. As with comparisons, both parts of an antithetical construction should be parallel. Incorrect: The administration approved the student's right to drop the class but not to meet with the professor. Correct: The administration approved the student's right to drop the class but notmeeting with the professor. 

11. The kinds of parallelism Parallel structure with correlative conjuctions Errors in parallel structure often occur with correlative conjunctions:either …or; neither …nor; both …and; not only …but also; whether …or. The sentence structure following the second half of the correlative conjunction should mirror the sentence structure following the first half. Incorrect: The scientists disputed not onlythe newspaper articlebut alsothey disputed the university's official statement. (faulty parallelism: phrase with clause) Correct: The scientists disputed not onlythe newspaper articlebut alsothe university's official statement. (parallel: phrase with phrase) 

12. The kinds of parallelism Parallel structure with verbs When you have more than one verb in a sentence, be sure to make the verbs parallel by not shifting tenses unnecessarily. Also, don't shift from an active to a passive verb. Incorrect: Kate prepared the speech on the plane, and it was delivered by her at the conference. (faulty parallelism: active verb followed by passive verb)    Correct: Kate prepared the speech on the plane and delivered it at the conference. (parallel: both verbs are active) 

13. Sentence fragments A sentence fragment is a group of words masquerading as a complete sentence. Sentence fragments, as incomplete sentences, can confuse your reader or make your meaning unclear. For example, the following passage contains two sentence fragments: I learned about sentence structure.The common mistakes.The best ways to correct them. (Complete sentence)(Fragment)(Fragment)

14. what should I do when correcting sentence fragment?  There are two main ways to repair sentence fragments. Expand the fragments into sentences, supplying the missing elements like subjects, verbs, and clauses. Incorrect: Confusing and distracting to readers. Correct: Sentence fragments are confusing and distracting to readers. Incorporate the fragment into a nearby sentence. 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.Correct: 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.

15. Examples of Correcting Common Errors in Sentence Structure

16. Comma splice Incorrect:In 1952 Japan's gross national product was one third that of France, by the late 1970s it was larger than the GNPs of France and Britain combined.Correct:In 1952 Japan's gross national product was one third that of France. By the late 1970s it was larger than the GNPs of France and Britain combined.Incorrect:The chair is ugly and its fabric is tattered and worn.Correct: The chair is ugly; its fabric is tattered and worn. Incorrect:Diseased coronary arteries are often surgically bypassed, however half of all bypass grafts fail within ten years.Correct:Diseased coronary arteries are often surgically bypassed; however, half of all bypass grafts fail within ten years.  Incorrect:My dog is a constant companion and he sleeps on my bed.Correct: My dog is a constant companion; he sleeps on my bed. Incorrect:My mom is coming home soon, so I should finish my homework.Correct: My mom is coming home soon? I should finish my homework. Incorrect:I never eat early in the morning, but I like to eat a late breakfast.Correct: I never eat early in the morning. I like to eat a late breakfast.

17. Run-on sentence Incorrect: He drove off in the Mercedes, Erica watched him go.Correct: He drove off in the Mercedes. Erica watched him go. Incorrect: Scientists were convinced by the evidence; however, the Food and Drug Administration was slow to respond. Correct: Scientists were convinced by the evidence, however, the Food and Drug Administration was slow to respond.  Incorrect: The hurricane damaged the arena. Nevertheless, the game was played on schedule. Correct: The hurricane damaged the arena, nevertheless, the game was played on schedule.  Incorrect: It was a beautiful day there was not a cloud in the sky.Correct: It was a beautiful day; there was not a cloud in the sky. Incorrect: I don't play tennis well I have a poor backhand. Correct: I don't play tennis well because I have a poor backhand. Incorrect: Adam is a sweet boy he really loves animals.Correct: Adam is a sweet boy, he really loves animals. Incorrect: Ann likes to read; she reads lots of books; she goes to the library 3 times a week.Correct: Ann likes to read; she reads lots of books and goes to the library 3 times a week.

18. Non-parallel sentences Incorrect: He liked their courage, stamina, and their style.Correct: He liked their courage, stamina, and style. Incorrect: She saw a van, a car, and bicycle collide.Correct: She saw a van, a car, and a bicycle collide. Incorrect: The committee chose to postpone the motion rather than to vote on it.Correct: The committee chose to postpone the motion rather than voting on it.  Incorrect: Either I like the job or not. Correct:Either I like the job or I don't like it. Inccorect: I have neither the patience to complete the assignment nor do I have the time complete it.Correct: I have neither the patience nor the time to complete the assignment.  Incorrect: They acted either as individual citizens or as members of the committee.Correct: They acted as either individual citizens or as members of the committee. 

19. Sentence fragments Incorrect:Purdue offers many majors in engineering. Such as electrical, chemical, and industrial engineering.Correct: Purdue offers many majors in engineering, such as electrical, chemical, and industrial engineering. Incorrect: Coach Dietz exemplified this behavior by walking off the field in the middle of a game. Leaving her team at a time when we needed her. Correct: Coach Dietz exemplified this behavior by walking off the field in the middle of a game, leaving her team at a time when we needed her. Incorrect: I need to find a new roommate. Because the one I have now isn't working out too well. Correct: I need to find a new roommate because the one I have now isn't working out too well. Incorrect: The current city policy on housing is incomplete as it stands. Which is why we believe the proposed amendments should be passed. Correct: Because the current city policy on housing is incomplete as it stands, we believe the proposed amendments should be passed. Incorrect: With the ultimate effect of all advertising is to sell the product. Correct: The ultimate effect of all advertising is to sell the product.

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