COMMON SENTENCE ERRORS

1. COMMON SENTENCE ERRORS Savaş Demir 265588 BA/ Evening

2. Definition • The word error entails different meanings and usages relative to how it is conceptuallyapplied. The concrete meaning of the Latin word "error" is "wandering" or "straying". Unlike an illusion, an error or a mistake can sometimes be dispelled through knowledge (knowing that one is looking at a mirage and not at real water does not make the mirage disappear). For example, a person who uses too much of an ingredient in a recipe and has a failed product can learn the right amount to use and avoid repeating the mistake. However, some errors can occur even when individuals have the required knowledge to perform a task correctly. Examples include forgetting to collect change after buying chocolate from a vending machine, forgetting the original document after making photocopies, and forgetting to turn the gas off after cooking a meal. Some errors occur when an individual is distracted by something else.

3. Comma Splice • 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.  • She wished she had some ice cream. Because it was raining, she asked her roommate to drive her to the store, but she refused. • I tried to clean the house, I gave up and watched soap operas instead.  • I tried to clean the house, but I gave up and watched soap operas instead. • I repaired all the structural errors in my paper, then I turned it in.  •  I repaired all the structural errors in my paper. Then I turned it in.

4. They wanted to start a band, none of them knew how to sing.  • They wanted to start a band; however, none of them knew how to sing. • Semicolons are my favorite kind of punctuation, they work especially well with conjunctive adverbs.  • Semicolons are my favorite kind of punctuation; moreover, they work especially well with conjunctive adverbs. • She painted the sunroom, the colors softened the room. • She painted the sunroom; the colors softened the room. • Platocame from a distinguished family, many historians believe he was descended from the old kings of Athens. • Plato came from a distinguished family. Many historians believe he was descended from the old kings of Athens.

5. He had little money, he had to walk to and from work every day. • He had little money.He had to walk to and from work every day. • On this side of the street are trim lawns, on that side are tall weeds. • On this side of the street are trim lawns;on that side are tall weeds. • It is true that curiosity can be dangerous, but curiosity is one of man's basic human urges. • It is true that curiosity can be dangerousbut, curiosity is one of man's basic human urges

6. Run-on Sentence • Most of the people live in Turkey complain about corruption. • Most of the people living in Turkey complain about corruption. • The earthquake of 1999 necessitated the repair and restoration of thousands of buildings cost the country one quarter of the budget. • The earthquake of 1999 necessitated the repair and restoration of thousands of buildings, which cost the country one quarter of the budget. • One of the reasons lead to failure at school is the absence of parental support. • One of the reasons why students fail at school is the absence of parental support.

7. It seems that students lack parental support tend to fail at school. •  It seems that students who lack parental support tend to fail in their courses. • There seems to be a relationship between age and independence grows with increasing age. • There seems to be a relationship between age and independence; independence growing with increasing age. • The belief that falling rates of inflation means higher standard of living many people share it. • The belief that falling rates of inflation means higher standard of living is shared by many people. • They gossiped about many things at lunch,they always have the most to say about their coworkers. • They gossiped about many things at lunch; they always have the most to say about their coworkers.

8. Osgood remained in the Marines for five years then he entered the state university in his home town. • Osgood remained in the Marines for five years. Then he entered the state university in his home town. • Emmy Lou lived on Magnolia Street for ten years her house was the Georgian manor at the very end of the block. • Emmy Lou lived on Magnolia Street for ten years her house was the Georgian manor at the very end of the block. • Bülentand Esmaspent the afternoon drinking tequila in Rio de Janeiro this beautiful seaport town is located in the southeastern section of Brazil. • Bülentand Esmaspent the afternoon drinking tequila in Rio de Janeiro, a beautiful seaport town in southeastern Brazil.

9. Non-parallel Sentences • Ramizhas in the past and will in the future continue to support the measure.  • Ramizhas supported the measure in the past, and he will continue to support it in the future.  • He described skiing in the Alps, swimming in the Adriatic, and the driveacross the Sahara Desert. • He described skiing in the Alps, swimming in the Adriatic, and driving across the Sahara Desert.  • She saw a van, a car, and bicycle collide. • She saw a van, a car, and a bicycle collide.

10. We spent the hour in the waiting room reading old magazines, eating stale cookies from the vending machine, and we wiggled on the hard plastic chairs. • We spent the hour in the waiting room reading old magazines, eating stale cookies from the vending machine, and wiggling on the hard plastic chairs. • EitherI like the jobornot. • EitherI like the joborI don't like it. • They acted as either individual citizens or as members of the committee. • They acted either as individual citizens or as members of the committee.

11. Kate prepared the speech on the plane, and it was delivered by her at the conference. • Kate prepared the speech on the plane and delivered it at the conference • I have neither the patience to complete the assignment nor do I have the time complete it. • I have neitherthe patiencenorthe time to complete the assignment.  • The administration approved the student's right to drop the class but notmeeting with the professor. • The administration approved the student's right to drop the class but not to meet with the professor. • What counts isn't how you look but your behavior. • What counts isn't how you look but how you behave.

12. Sentence Framents • Although the hermit crab is an easily cared for pet and iscurrently quite popular. • Although the hermit crab is an easily cared for pet and iscurrently quite popular, it can not be trained to do tricks, noris it the least bit affectionate. • Spring having come early this year. • Spring having come early this year, the campus swains cutclasses every other day in order to stroll with their sweet-hearts. • Pearl Pureheart loved Dick Dastard. Although Captain Dashfoot was handsomer. • Pearl Pureheart loved Dick Dastard although Captain Dashfoot was handsomer.

13. Because the mayor wanted more coverage than a single newspaper story.  • Because the mayor wanted more coverage than a single newspaper story, we called a press conference for all media.  • Because of he feared rejection. • Because he feared rejection, Tom never queried a literary agent about his novel. • Which is what he had originally planned. •  Tom decided to write a mystery novel, which is what he had originally planned.

14. Although it was against contest rules. •  Although it was against contest rules, Tom entered a previously published short story. • One that Tom will always regret. •  It was a hasty decision, one that Tom will always regret, to burn the agent’s letter without even opening it. • First, the pitfalls of a writer’s life. • Tom knew he must first address the pitfalls of a writer’s life. • Knowing he was making the best decision for his family. • Knowing he was making the best decision for his family, Tom decided to quit his job selling insurance and devote all his time to writing.