Fragments, Run Ons, and Comma Splices

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What is a fragment?

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A fragment is a group of words that does not express a complete thought. It often lacks a subject or a verb.

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What is a run-on sentence?

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A run-on sentence occurs when two or more independent clauses are joined without appropriate punctuation or conjunction.

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What is a comma splice?

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A comma splice is a grammatical error that occurs when two independent clauses are joined by a comma without a coordinating conjunction.

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How can you fix a fragment?

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You can fix a fragment by adding the missing subject or verb, or by connecting it to a complete sentence.

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How can you fix a run-on sentence?

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You can fix a run-on sentence by adding a period, a semicolon, or a coordinating conjunction to separate the independent clauses.

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How can you fix a comma splice?

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You can fix a comma splice by replacing the comma with a semicolon, adding a coordinating conjunction, or separating the clauses into two sentences.

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Example of a fragment: 'After the storm.' What is wrong with this sentence?

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This is a fragment because it does not express a complete thought; it leaves the reader wondering what happened after the storm.

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Example of a run-on: 'I love to read I have many books.' What is wrong with this sentence?

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This is a run-on sentence because it contains two independent clauses that are not properly connected.

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Example of a comma splice: 'It was raining, I stayed inside.' What is wrong with this sentence?

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This is a comma splice because it incorrectly joins two independent clauses with just a comma.

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What is an independent clause?

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An independent clause is a group of words that contains a subject and a verb and expresses a complete thought.