Fragments, Run-Ons, Shifts
Fragments
Frag: avoid sentence fragments. A fragment is an incomplete sentence.
1. Do not leave subordinate word groups to stand alone.
SUBORDINATE CLAUSE MAIN CLAUSE FRAGMENT Although computers do not make errors. Their operators do. COMPLETE SENTENCE Although computers do not make errors, their operators do. COMPLETE SENTENCES Computers do not make errors. However, their operators do.
MAIN CLAUSE RELATIVE CLAUSE FRAGMENT I wanted to see the movie. Which everyone said was good. COMPLETE SENTENCE I wanted to see the movie, which everyone said was good. 2. Avoid beginning sentences with words like but or and. A sentence that starts with a coordinating conjunction (but, and, or, nor, yet) is technically a fragment. Such sentences are used all the time in conversation, but they sound informal and they quickly become monotonous.
FRAGMENT: The United Nations held peace talks. But the civil war continued.
COMPLETE SENTENCE: The United Nations held peace talks, but the civil war continued.
COMPLETE SENTENCE: Despite the peace talks, the civil war continued.
Run-On Sentences
RO: run-on sentences.
If RO is marked on your paper, identify which of the two errors you made, and choose the best way to correct it.
1. CS: comma splices. Do not use commas to join sentences that must stand on their own:
WRONG: The wind blew all night long, now the trees have no leaves.
Periods and coordinating conjunctions are lazy solutions that do not give the reader much help. Semicolons are better, but restructuring is best. Comma splices are signs that a writer has not worked hard enough to define the connection between ideas.
RESTRUCTURED: After last night's storm, the trees have no leaves.
SEMICOLON: The wind blew all night long; now the trees have no leaves.
CONJUNCTION: The wind blew all night long, and now the trees have no leaves.
PERIOD: The wind blew all night long. Now the trees have no leaves.
2. FS: fused sentences. Do not join with no punctuation two independent clauses:
WRONG: The wind blew all night long now the trees have no leaves.
The same rules for correcting comma splices apply to fused sentences.
Shifts, Mixed Constructions, and Awkward Phrasing
Mix: shifts and mixed constructions.
If your teacher marks "Mix," identify which rule applies.
1. Mixed constructions. Avoid confusing shifts of sentence structure. In the sentence below, the verb ("does [not] make") has no subject. Restructure the sentence for clarity:
WRONG: Just because you have a college degree does not make you right.
RIGHT: Having a college degree does not make you right.
2. Vague connective phrases. Restructure sentences to clarify connections. See the entries on how, (is) because, (is) when/where, and like when in the Glossary (Part Three).
VAGUE: I like how you wear your hair.
CLEAR: I like the way you wear your hair.
CLEAR: I like your hair style.
VAGUE: He tells her about how he loves her.
CLEAR: He tells her that he loves her.
CLEAR: He tells her how much he loves her.
VAGUE: The reason he is absent is because he is sick.
CLEAR: The reason he is absent is that he is sick.
CLEAR: He is absent because he is sick.
VAGUE: Photosynthesis is when plants exposed to light form carbohydrates.
CLEAR: Photosynthesis is the formation of carbohydrates by plants exposed to light.
VAGUE: Boo Radley helps the children, like when he mends Jem's trousers.
CLEAR: Boo Radley performs helpful services for the children, like mending Jem's trousers.
3. Indirect and direct discourse. Do not shift between indirect and direct discourse. In indirect discourse one statement or question is reported within another, not quoted word-for-word. Indirect questions do not take question marks or quotation marks. Avoid shifts to direct questions:
WRONG (INDIRECT TO DIRECT): Mom told us to have fun but don't stay out after dark.
RIGHT (BOTH INDIRECT): Mom told us to have fun but return home before dark.
WRONG: She asked if it is on sale and how much does it cost.
RIGHT (TWO INDIRECT QUESTIONS): She asked if it is on sale and how much it costs.
RIGHT (TWO DIRECT QUESTIONS): She asked, "Is it on sale?" and "How much does it cost?"
4. Quoting literature. Avoid shifts when you quote passages with personal pronouns. In the passage below, the me seems to refer to the writer, not to Lady Macbeth:
WRONG: Lady Macbeth tells her husband to "Leave all the rest to me" (1.5.74).
RIGHT: Lady Macbeth gives her husband reassurance: "Leave all the rest to me" (1.5.74).
RIGHT: Lady Macbeth tells her husband, "Leave all the rest to me" (1.5.74).
RIGHT: Lady Macbeth tells her husband to "Leave all the rest to [her]" (1.5.74).