Identifying Sentences That Meet Conventions of Standard Written English

Fragments, Comma Splices, and Run-on Sentences

A fragment is only part of a complete sentence; usually a sentence fragment has no verb. Correcting a sentence fragment requires the writing of a complete thought.

An example of a sentence fragment is shown below.

People trying to buy homes today with the interest rates as high as they are.

To correct this fragment, a verb is needed. This is accomplished by the sentence below.

People are trying to buy homes today even though interest rates are high.

1) Another sentence fragment is shown below. Write a sentence that states the intended full thought of the fragment above. When finished click here.

Wanting to be the best fullback even though Henry is small.

A comma splice incorrectly joins two independent clauses with a comma. Independent clauses can be separate sentences or can be joined by a semicolon. Below is shown a comma splice.

Try to use all of your skills, you may make the first team.

The comma splice above could be corrected as:

Try to use all of your skills, and you may make the first team.

2) Another comma splice error is shown below. Write a sentence that corrects the comma splice error above. When finished click here.

It rained all day, consequently, we had to postpone the picnic.

A run-on sentence incorrectly runs two independent clauses together without punctuation. Below is shown a run-on sentence.

The police found the lost boy he was asleep under a tree.

The run-on sentence above could be corrected as:

The police found the lost boy; he was asleep under a tree.

3) Another run-on sentence error is shown below. Write a sentence that corrects the run-on sentence error above. When finished, click here

I worked all day rain and hail didn't stop me.