The document discusses various types of grammatical errors involving sentence structure - comma splices, sentence fragments, nonparallel structure, and run-on sentences. It provides examples of incorrect sentences for each type of error and explains how to fix each one, such as by replacing commas with semicolons, dividing sentences, adding subjects or verbs, balancing structure, and separating clauses.

2.  Comma splices entail the incorrect use
of a comma to join two (or more)
independent clauses together in a single
sentence.

3.  Replace the comma with a semicolon;
Incorrect: We have hundreds of pages of
reading to do, it will be impossible to
finish it all before the exam.
Correct: We have hundreds of pages of
reading to do; it will be impossible to
finish it all before the exam

4.  Divide the comma-spliced sentence into
smaller sentences, replacing the erroneous
comma with appropriate ending
punctuation;
Incorrect: She wished she had some ice
cream and because it was raining, she
asked her roommate to drive her to the
store, but she refused.
Correct: She wished she had some ice cream.
Because it was raining, she asked her
roommate to drive her to the store, but she
refused.

5.  Insert a coordinating conjunction after the comma. In
case you don't know what a coordinating conjunction
is, here's a list: and, but, so, or, nor, for, yet.
Incorrect: I tried to clean the house, I gave up and watched
soap operas instead.
Correct: I tried to clean the house, but I gave up and
watched soap operas instead.
Incorrect: I repaired all the structural errors in my paper, then I
turned it in.
Correct: I repaired all the structural errors in my paper, and
then I turned it in.
Correct: I repaired all the structural errors in my paper. Then I
turned it in.


6.  Instead of a using a comma alone to separate the
independent clauses, rearrange the sentence into
the following format: INDEPENDENT CLAUSE;
CONJUNCTIVE ADVERB, INDEPENDENT CLAUSE.
Incorrect: They wanted to start a band, none of them
knew how to sing.
Correct: They wanted to start a band; however, none of
them knew how to sing.
Incorrect: Semicolons are my favorite kind of
punctuation, they work especially well with
conjunctive adverbs.
Correct: Semicolons are my favorite kind of
punctuation; moreover, they work especially well
with conjunctive adverbs.

7.  A sentence fragment is a group of words
looking like a complete sentence.
Sentence fragments, as incomplete
sentences, can confuse your reader or
make your meaning unclear. There is an
easy way to test for sentence
completeness. Ask the following
sentences as you are writing:

8.  Is there a verb (action word)?
 Is there a subject?
 If the phrase starts with a subordinating
word (like "because" or "since"), does it
also include an independent clause to
complete the thought?
 If you answered "no" to any of these
questions, you've got yourself a sentence
fragment.

9.  Expand the fragments into sentences,
supplying the missing elements like subjects,
verbs, and clauses.
Incorrect: Confusing and distracting to
readers.
Correct: Sentence fragments are confusing
and distracting to readers.
Incorrect: Because they are confusing and
distracting to readers.
Correct: Because they are confusing and
distracting to readers, writers should
generally avoid sentence fragments.

10.  Incorporate the fragment into a nearby
sentence.
Incorrect: The dog was waiting in the
window when his owner got home.
Then, excited, wagging his tail. He went
to greet her at the door.
Correct: The dog was waiting in the
window when his owner got home.
Excited, he wagged his tail and went to
greet her at the door.

11.  Add more information to fix the
fragment.
Incorrect: Because I care.
Correct: Because I care, I decided to
donate money.

12.  Add a subject to the fragment.
Incorrect: Wanted to get to work on time.
Correct: Frank wanted to get to work on
time.

13.  Parallel sentence structure is about
balancing your sentences. The words "and,"
"but" and "or" are conjunctions, used to join
ideas and comparisons in sentences. The
ideas and comparisons on each side of
these words should be balanced out in
order to be considered parallel. If they are
not balanced out then they are nonparallel
sentences.

14.  Use the same form of comparison words
within a sentence.
Incorrect: He likes playing and to run at
recess.
Correct: He likes playing and running at
recess.
Incorrect: Her details of the events were
recounted correct and clearly.
Correct: Her details of the events were
recounted correctly and clearly

15.  Keep nouns, adjectives and verbs
constant in a descriptive list; don't mix
them.
Incorrect: He was full of greed and
ignorant.
Correct: He was full of greed and
ignorance
Correct: He was greedy and ignorant.

16.  Make sure the verb usage is balanced out.
If you use a verb with one word, use a verb
with all of the words on each side of your
"and," "but" and "or.“
Incorrect: Newborns frequently cry and are
restless at night.
Correct: Newborns frequently cry and restless
at night.

17.  Place your connecting words so that
they come before both of the ideas that
you are connecting.
Incorrect: She was not only the best person
on our team, but a good friend too.
Correct: She not only was the best person
on our team, but a good friend too.

18.  A run-on sentence is a sentence in which
several main clauses are strung together
without proper punctuation and so run
together as if they were one sentence.
Run-on sentences make your reader's
job difficult; they interrupt the rhythm of
your writing and condense too much
information into a small space.

19.  Separate the independent clauses into two
sentences.
Incorrect: They gossiped about many things
at lunch they always have the most to say
about their coworkers.
Correct: They gossiped about many things at
lunch. They always have the most to say
about their coworkers.

20.  If the ideas expressed in the clauses are
connected, they can be joined with a semi-
colon.
Incorrect: They gossiped about many things
at lunch they always have the most to say
about their coworkers.
Correct: They gossiped about many things at
lunch; they always have the most to say
about their coworkers.

21.  Subordinate one of the clauses. That is, first
employ a word or phrase as a subordinator
like although, while, because, and whereas.
Then, add commas where needed, and go
from there.
Incorrect: They gossiped about many things
at lunch they always have the most to say
about their coworkers.
Correct: Although they gossiped about many
things at lunch, they always have the most
to say about their coworkers.