Raina Lyons: Four Common Sentence Errors Lecture part 2.pptx
- 1. Errors 2, 3, & 4: Errors in joining independent clauses • So, the first common sentence error we discussed was the sentence fragment, which referred to some group of words that wasn’t an independent clause masquerading as an independent clause. • The remaining three common errors all deal with improperly joining together two independent clauses: fused sentences, comma splices, and run-on sentences. • Tip: read the rest of WCS reading (pp 24-35), for a refresher about joining independent clauses.
- 2. How DO you join 2 independent clauses??? • There are three correct ways to put two independent clauses together: 1. Keep them as two separate sentences, separated by a period. • Ex. The dog ran into the busy traffic. The boy watched with tear- filled eyes. 2. If you want more connection, join them with a semicolon. • Ex. The dog ran into the busy traffic; the boy watched with tear- filled eyes. 3. If you want even more connected meaning, join them with a comma + coordinating conjunction • Ex. The dog ran into the busy traffic, and the boy watched with tear-filled eyes.
- 3. Joining independent clauses, continued… • Think of it as glue: You either leave the two independent clauses stuck together 1) by proximity (and a period), 2) by the strong glue that is the semicolon, or 3) by the two- part epoxy of the comma + coordinating conjunction (FANBOYS) • For And Nor But Or Yet So
- 4. Fused sentences • Fused sentences happen when two independent clauses are joined up with NO GLUE AT ALL. • Ex. The boy ran toward the intersection the car tires screeched. See how awkward this is? That’s why this is a fairly rare error. • Fix it: by adding the correct strong glue (period, semicolon, or comma + FANBOYS) 1. The boy ran toward the intersection. The car tires screeched. 2. The boy ran toward the intersection; the car tires screeched. 3. The boy ran toward the intersection, and the car tires screeched.
- 5. Comma splices & Run-ons • There are three strong glues that hold these independent clauses together, right? 1. Period 2. Semicolon 3. Comma + Coordinating Conjunction Well, the last two common sentence errors arise from misuse of that third strong glue, the comma + coordinating conjunction.
- 6. Comma splices • Comma splices are two independent clauses joined with only a comma…BUT A COMMA ISN’T STRONG ENOUGH GLUE ALL BY ITSELF! • Ex. The dog ran around in circles in the middle of the intersection, the car tires spooked him. • Fix it: by a) adding the missing coordinating conjunction: • Ex. The dog ran around in circles in the middle of the intersection, but the car tires spooked him. • Or by b) changing the comma to a semicolon or a period: • Ex. The dog ran around in circles in the middle of the intersection; the car tires spooked him. • Ex. The dog ran around in circles in the middle of the intersection. The car tires spooked him.
- 7. Run-on sentences • NOTE: Sometimes the term “run-on” sentence is lumped together with fused sentence or is simply used to refer to a sentence that is too long…that’s NOT how I’m using it here. • For my purposes, a run-on sentence is the mirror image of the comma splice: • A run-on sentence is two independent clauses joined with only a coordinating conjuction…BUT A COORDINATING CONJUCTION ISN’T STRONG ENOUGH GLUE ALL BY ITSELF! You need that comma, too. • Ex. All the cars had come to a stop and a friendly driver got out of her truck. • Fix it: by a) adding the missing comma: • Ex. All the cars had come to a stop, and a friendly driver got out of her truck. • Or by b) changing the comma to a semicolon or a period: • Ex. All the cars had come to a stop; a friendly driver got out of her truck. • Ex. All the cars had come to a stop. A friendly driver got out of her truck.
- 8. So that’s it… • You’ve just learned how to correct something like 90% of the errors I encounter when grading! So now, when you see this: • The kind motorist holding out her arms. The dog ran to her the motorist smiled and handed the boy the dog’s leash. The boy hugged his dog, he turned around and walked toward home. His dog licked the tears from his face and he prayed his parents would never find out what had happened. • You can change it to this: • The kind motorist held out her arms. The dog ran to her. The motorist smiled and handed the boy the dog’s leash. The boy hugged his dog, and he turned around and walked toward home. His dog licked the tears from his face; the boy prayed his parents would never find out what had happened.