Chapter Introduction
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Cars are great when they go, but when they break down, they’re a huge headache. After a look
under the hood, a bit of scrabbling beneath the thing, maybe a push, maybe a jack, and probably
a tow truck, there’s probably going to be a big bill.
Sentences also are great until they break down. But you don’t need to be stuck with the
confusing mess for long. This chapter outlines a few common sentence problems and explains
how to fix them.
16.1
Common Fragments
In everyday speech and informal writing, sentence fragments are occasionally used. In academic
conversations and formal writing, fragments should be avoided because they are too easily
misunderstood.
Missing Parts
A sentence requires a subject and a verb. If one or the other or both are missing, the sentence is
a fragment. Such fragments can be fixed by supplying the missing part.
Fragment: Went to the concert.
Fragment + Subject: We went to the concert.
Fragment: Everyone from Westville Community College.
Fragment + Verb: Everyone from Westville Community College may participate.
Fragment: In the interest of student safety.
Fragment + Subject and Verb: The president acted in the interest of student safety.
Incomplete Thoughts
A sentence also must express a complete thought. Some fragments have a subject and a verb
but do not express a complete thought. These fragments can be corrected by providing words
that complete the thought.
Fragment: The concert will include.
Completing Thought: The concert will include an amazing light show.
Fragment: If we arrive in time.
Completing Thought: If we arrive in time, we’ll get front-row seats.
Fragment: That opened the concert.
Completing Thought: I liked the bluegrass band that opened the concert.
16.2
Tricky Fragments
Some fragments are more difficult to find and correct. They creep into our writing because they
are often part of the way we talk.
Absolute Phrases
An absolute phrase may look like a sentence, but it isn’t. An absolute phrase can be made into a
sentence by adding a helping verb or by connecting the phrase to a complete sentence.
Absolute Phrase (Fragment): Our legs trembling from the hike.
Absolute Phrase + Helping Verb: Our legs were trembling from the hike.
Absolute Phrase + Complete Sentence: We collapsed on the couch, our legs trembling from the
hike.
Informal Fragments
Fragments that are commonly used in speech should be eliminated from formal writing. Avoid
the following types of fragments unless you are writing dialogue.
Interjections: Hey! Yeah!
Exclamations: What a nuisance! How fun!
Greetings: Hi, everybody. Good afternoon.
Questions: How come? Why not? What?
Answers: About three or four. As soon as possible.
Sentences that begin with here or there have a delayed subject, which appears after the verb.
Other sentences (commands) have an implied subject (you). Such sentences are not fragments.
Delayed Subject: Here are some crazy fans wearing wild hats.
Implied Subject: Tackle him! Bring him down!
16.3
Comma Splices
Comma splices occur when two sentences are connected with only a comma. A comma splice
can be fixed by adding a coordinating conjunction (and, but, or, nor, for, so, or yet) or a
subordinating conjunction (while, after, when, before, because, although). The two sentences
can also be joined by a semicolon (;) or separated by a period.
Comma Splice
The Eiffel Tower was a main attraction at the Paris Exposition, the Ferris wheel was its equivalent
at the Chicago Exposition.
Corrected by adding a coordinating conjunction: The Eiffel Tower was a main attraction at the
Paris Exposition, and the Ferris wheel was its equivalent at the Chicago Exposition.
Corrected by adding a subordinating conjunction: While the Eiffel Tower was a main attraction at
the Paris Exposition, the Ferris wheel was its equivalent at the Chicago Exposition.
Corrected by replacing the comma with a semicolon: The Eiffel Tower was a main attraction at
the Paris Exposition; the Ferris wheel was its equivalent at the Chicago Exposition.
Comma Splice
An engineer named George Washington Gale Ferris planned the first Ferris wheel, many people
thought he was crazy.
Corrected by adding a coordinating conjunction: An engineer named George Washington Gale
Ferris planned the first Ferris wheel, but many people thought he was crazy.
Corrected by adding a subordinating conjunction: When an engineer named George Washington
Gale Ferris planned the first Ferris wheel, many people thought he was crazy.
Corrected by replacing the comma with a period: An engineer named George Washington Gale
Ferris planned the first Ferris wheel. Many people thought he was crazy.
Insight
A comma without a conjunction is not strong enough to join two sentences. A semicolon can join
two related sentences, or a period can separate them.
16.4
Run-On Sentences
A run-on sentence occurs when two sentences are joined without punctuation or a connecting
word. A run-on can be corrected by adding a comma and a conjunction or by inserting a
semicolon or period between the two sentences.
Run-On
Horace Wilson taught in Tokyo in 1872 he introduced the Japanese to baseball.
Corrected by adding a comma and coordinating conjunction: Horace Wilson taught in Tokyo in
1872, and he introduced the Japanese to baseball.
Corrected by adding a subordinating conjunction and a comma: While Horace Wilson taught in
Tokyo in 1872, he introduced the Japanese to baseball.
Corrected by inserting a semicolon: Horace Wilson taught in Tokyo in 1872; he introduced the
Japanese to baseball.
Run-On
The first team in Japan was formed in 1878 no one knew how popular the sport would become.
Corrected by adding a comma and coordinating conjunction: The first team in Japan was formed
in 1878, yet no one knew how popular the sport would become.
Corrected by adding a subordinating conjunction: The first team in Japan was formed in 1878
although no one knew how popular the sport would become.
Corrected by inserting a period: The first team in Japan was formed in 1878. No one knew how
popular the sport would become.
Here’s an additional way to correct a run-on sentence: Turn one of the sentences into a phrase
or series of phrases; then combine it with the other sentence.
The first team in Japan was formed in 1878 without a thought about how popular the sport
would become.
16.5
Rambling Sentences
A rambling sentence occurs when many separate ideas are connected by one and, but, or so
after another. The result is an unfocused sentence that goes on and on. To correct a rambling
sentence, break it into smaller units, adding and cutting words as needed.
Rambling: When we signed up for the two-on-two tournament, I had no thoughts about
winning, but then my brother started talking about spending his prize money and he asked me
how I would spend the share so we were counting on winning when we really had little chance
and as it turned out, we lost in the second round.
Corrected: When we signed up for the two-on-two tournament, I had no thoughts about
winning. Then my brother started talking about spending the prize money. He even asked me
how I would spend my share. Soon we were counting on winning when we really had little
chance. As it turned out, we lost in the second round.
16.6
Misplaced Dangling and Modifiers
Dangling Modifiers
A modifier is a word, phrase, or clause that functions as an adjective or adverb. When the reader
cannot find the word that is being described by the modifier, the modifier is called a dangling
modifier. This error can be corrected by inserting the missing word or rewriting the sentence.
Dangling Modifier: After putting some raw chicken in the bowl, my cat began to purr. (The cat
could put chicken in the bowl?)
Corrected: After I put some raw chicken in the bowl, my cat began to purr.
Dangling Modifier: Trying to gobble the food quickly, the bowl got tipped over. (The bowl was
trying to gobble the food?)
Corrected: Trying to gobble the food quickly, the cat tipped over the bowl.
Misplaced Modifiers
When a modifier is placed beside a word that it does not modify, the modifier is misplaced. This
often results in an amusing or illogical statement. The reader must ask, “Who or what is actually
being described?” The misplaced modifier can be corrected by moving it next to the word that it
modifies.
Misplaced Modifier: My cat was diagnosed by the vet with fleas. (The vet has fleas?)
Corrected: The vet diagnosed my cat with fleas.
Misplaced Modifier: The vet gave a pill to my cat that tastes like fish. (The cat tastes like fish?)
Corrected: The vet gave my cat a pill that tastes like fish.
Avoid placing any adverb modifiers between a verb and its direct object.
Misplaced: I will throw quickly the ball.
Corrected: I will quickly throw the ball.
Also, do not separate two-word verbs with an adverb modifier.
Misplaced: Please take immediately out the trash.
Corrected: Please immediately take out the trash.
16.7
Shifts in Sentence
Construction
Shift in Person
A shift in person is an error that occurs when first, second, and third person are improperly
mixed in a sentence.
Shift in Person: If you exercise and eat right, an individual can lose weight. (The sentence
improperly shifts from second person—you—to third person—individual.)
Corrected: If you exercise and eat right, you can lose weight.
Shift in Tense
A shift in tense is an error that occurs when more than one verb tense is improperly used in a
sentence.
Shift in Tense: He tried every other option before he agrees to do it my way. (The sentence
improperly shifts from past tense—tried—to present tense—agrees.)
Corrected: He tried every other option before he agreed to do it my way.
Shift in Voice
A shift in voice is an error that occurs when active voice and passive voice are mixed in a
sentence.
Shift in Voice: When she fixes the radiator, other repairs may be suggested. (The sentence
improperly shifts from active voice—fixes—to passive voice—may be suggested.)
Corrected: When she fixes the radiator, she may suggest other repairs.
