HLYANUR BLBL FIRST CLASS (EVENING) COMMON SENTENCE ERRORS The Definition of The Error A term used in prescriptive grammar for an instance of faulty, unconventianal, or controversial usage, such as a comma splice or misplaced modifier. Compare grammatical error with correctness. COMMA SPLICE Comma splices are similar to run-on sentences because they also incorrectly connect independent clauses. A comma splice occurs when two independent clauses are connected with only a comma. As with a run-on sentence, there are a few different ways to correct a comma splice. Consider the following sentence and the revised versions that follow it. Comma Splice: My family bakes together nearly every night, we then get to enjoy everything we make together. EXAMPLES My family bakes together nearly every night. We then get to enjoy everything we make together. The comma splice has been corrected by breaking the sentence into two separate sentences. My family bakes together nearly every night, and we then get to enjoy everything we make together. The comma splice has been corrected by adding a coordinating conjunction and a comma. After my family bakes together nearly every night, we get to enjoy everything we make together. The comma splice has been corrected by adding a subordinating conjunction and a comma. I got up late this morning. I didn't have time for breakfast. or I got up late this morning; I didn't have time for breakfast. or I got up late this morning, so I didn't have time for breakfast. or I got up late this morning, and I didn't have time for breakfast. Original sentences are in italics. Possible revisions follow. I didnt like the movie, it was way too long. Possible revision 1: I didnt like the movie. It was way too long. Possible revision 2: I didnt like the movie because it was way too long. She and Jerry are getting married in the fall, they didnt want a summer wedding. Possible revision 1: Because they didnt want a summer wedding, she and jerry are getting married in the fall. Possible revision 2: She and Jerry didnt want a summer wedding, so they are getting married in the fall. My favorite bands are all really loud, playing loud music is good for stress relief. Possible revision 1: My favorite bands are all really loud; playing loud music is good for stress relief. Possible revision 2: My favorite bands are all really loud because playing loud music is good for stress relief. A DIFFERENT STRATEGY: If you choose to turn one of the clauses into a subordinate (dependent) clause, then you can use just the comma between the two clauses: Because I got up late this morning, I didn't have time for breakfast. Examples: 1.This is my father, that is my uncle. 2.Some students find writing easy, some find it excruciatingly difficult. 3.It's not a comet, it's a meteor. 4.We aren't visiting Pennsylvania this year, we're spending the summer in Florida. 5.You saw that movie last night, didn't you? 6.It looks as though we're in for a tornado, doesn't it? 7.You've been to Europe, haven't you? 8.I didnt like the movie, it was way too long. 9.She and Jerry are getting married in the fall, they didnt want a summer wedding. 10.My favorite bands are all really loud, playing loud music is good for stress relief. RUN ON SENTENCE (sometimes called a "fused sentence") has at least two parts, either one of which can stand by itself (in other words, two independent clauses), but the two parts have been smooshed together instead of being properly connected. Review, also, the section which describes Things That Can Happen Between Two Independent Clauses.Things That Can Happen Between Two Independent Clauses Run-on sentences are in italics. Possible revisions to sentences are in parentheses. We were really busy at the restaurant tonight. I waited tables straight through from 3:30 to 11:30 I never sat down for even one break. (I waited tables straight through from 3:30 to 11:30, and I never sat down for even one break.) My dog had to go to the vet today. She cried and cried when they clipped her toenails, but then she was fine when they gave her a shot! The book we had to read for class was really long my teacher doesnt seem to understand that we have other classes to read for too. (The book we had to read for class was really long. My teacher doesnt seem to understand that we have other classes to read for too.) Run-On: The grocery store was really packed with people there must have been a big sale today. Correction 1: The grocery store was really packed with people. There must have been a big sale today. Here, the error has been corrected by simply breaking the run-on sentence into two sentences. Correction 2: The grocery store was really packed with people, so there must have been a big sale today. In this case, the sentence has been corrected by adding a coordinating conjunction and a comma. This is a compound sentence. Correction 3: Because the grocery store was really packed with people, there must have been a big sale. In this example, the sentence has been corrected by adding a subordinating conjunction and a comma. This is a complex sentence. Run-on Sentences: Adam is a sweet boy he really loves animals. Adam is a sweet boy, he really loves animals. Sometimes two sentences are very closely related in meaning and full end-stop punctuation may seem too strong. A semicolon can then be used to divide the two sentences....end-stop punctuationsemicolon Run-on: It was a beautiful day there was not a cloud in the sky. Correct: It was a beautiful day; there was not a cloud in the sky. A run-on sentence can sometimes be prevented by using a comma and joining word (coordinate conjunction) to join sentences together.commacoordinate conjunction Wrong: John went to the movies x Sue stayed home. Correct: John went to the movies, and Sue stayed home. "[Another way to correct a run-on sentence is to] change the run-on to a complex sentence by placing a subordinating conjunction before one of the clauses:complex sentencesubordinating conjunction Run-on: I don't play tennis well I have a poor backhand. Correct: I don't play tennis well because I have a poor backhand. PARALLEL SENTENCES in sentences refers to matching grammatical structures. Elements in a sentence that have the same function or express similar ideas should be grammatically parallel, or grammatically matched. Parallelism is used as a rhetorical and stylistic device in literature, speeches, advertising, and popular songs. I sighed as a lover, I obeyed as a sonEdward Gibbon Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the bodyJoseph Addison Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your countryJohn F. Kennedy Parallelism lends balance and grace to writing. It can make a sentence memorable. Even in prose not destined for greatness, parallelism is important. Faulty parallelism A failure to create grammatically parallel structures when they are appropriate is referred to as faulty parallelism. In the following examples, note the difference between correct parallel structure and faulty parallelism. What counts isn't how you look but how you behave. What counts isn't how you look but your behavior. The president promised to reform health care, preserve social security, andbalance the budget. The president promised to reform health care, preserve social security, and a balanced budget. Not Parallel: Tomorrow, I want to be shopping and eat lunch with Sarah. Parallel: Tomorrow, I want to shop and eat lunch with Sarah. In this sentence, the verbs to be shopping and eat lunch are the same form. To create parallel structure, the two verbs must be structured in the same form. Not Parallel: Sarah and I always like to shop at specialty shops, shoe stores, and in the home stores. Paralel: Sarah and I always like to shop at specialty shops, in shoe stores, and in home stores. This sentence lacks parallel structure for a couple of reasons. First, specialty shops andhome stores are both preceded by prepositions (at and in), but shoe stores is not. Additionally, home stores is preceded by an article (the), but specialty shops and shoe stores are not. Not Parallel: The best places to eat are casual, fun, and you can get a meal for cheap. Parallel: The best places to eat are casual, fun, and inexpensive. Here, the sentence is not in parallel structure because the list includes words (casual andfun) and a short phrase (you can get a meal for cheap). A list should only be composed of either words or short phrases, not both. Parallel structure in a series When your sentence includes a series, make sure you have not used different grammatical structures for the items. He described skiing in the Alps, swimming in the Adriatic, and the driveacross the Sahara Desert. (faulty parallelism) He described skiing in the Alps, swimming in the Adriatic, and driving across the Sahara Desert. (parallel) In the parallel version, all the elements in the series begin with gerunds: skiing, swimming, driving. In the nonparallel version, the final element is a noun but not a gerund. The elements would remain parallel even if the phrases following the gerunds were changed or omitted. The length of the items in the series does not affect the parallel structure. He described skiing, swimming in the Adriatic, and driving across the desert. (parallel) It doesn't matter what grammatical structure you choose for your series as long as you keep it consistent. Elaine liked to have a beer, exchange stories with her friends, and watch the men walk by. (parallel) Elaine liked having a beer, exchanging stories with her friends, and watchingthe men walk by. (parallel When you use words such as to, a, an, his, her, or their with items in a series, you can use the word with the first item, thus having it apply to all the items; or you can repeat it with each item. If you choose to repeat it, you must do so with all the items, not just some of them. He liked their courage, stamina, and style. (parallel) He liked their courage, their stamina, and their style. (parallel) He liked their courage, stamina, and their style. (not parallel) She saw a van, car, and bicycle collide. (parallel) She saw a van, a car, and a bicycle collide. (parallel) She saw a van, a car, and bicycle collide. (not parallel) Parallel structure with correlative conjunctions Errors in parallel structure often occur with correlative conjunctions: either or; neither nor; both and; not only but also; whether or. The sentence structure following the second half of the correlative conjunction should mirror the sentence structure following the first half. The scientists disputed not only the newspaper article but also the university's official statement. (parallel: phrase with phrase) The scientists disputed not only the newspaper article but also they disputed the university's official statement. (faulty parallelism: phrase with clause) Either I like the job or I don't like it. (parallel: clause with clause) Either I like the job or I don't. (parallel: clause with clause) Either I like the job or not. (faulty parallelism: clause with adverb) I have neither the patience nor the time to complete the assignment. (parallel: noun phrase with noun phrase) I have neither the patience to complete the assignment nor do I have the time complete it. (faulty parallelism: phrase with clause) Parallel structure with verbs When you have more than one verb in a sentence, be sure to make the verbs parallel by not shifting tenses unnecessarily. Also, don't shift from an active to a passive verb. Kate prepared the speech on the plane and delivered it at the conference. (parallel: both verbs are active) Kate prepared the speech on the plane, and it was delivered by her at the conference. (faulty parallelism: active verb followed by passive verb) Sometimes sentences use a single verb form with two helping verbs. Look at the following example. Robert has in the past and will in the future continue to support the measure. (incorrect) To support belongs with will continue, but not with has. If you read the sentence without and will in the future continue, you will see this: Robert has in the past to support the measure. Rewrite the sentence to include a participial form for has. Robert has in the past supported, and will in the future continue to support, the measure. OR Robert has supported the measure in the past, and he will continue to support it in the future. SENTENCE FRAGMENTS Some of the sentences below are fragments. Play editor on the sentences. Could you tell these writers why the fragments are incomplete sentences? Also, how would you tell the writers to fix them? Then I attended Morris Junior High. A junior high that was a bad experience. In the seventh grade every young boy goes out for football. To prove to himself and his parents that he is a man. She opened the door and let us into her home. Not realizing at the time that we would never enter that door in her home again. Making up his mind quickly. Jim ordered two dozen red roses for his wife. Hoping she would accept his apology. They were all having a good time. Until one of Joe's oldest and best friends had a little too much to drink. Fragment Sentence Exercise Fragment sentences are in italics. Explanations are in parentheses. Then I attended Morris Junior High. A junior high that was a bad experience. (dependent clause) In the seventh grade every young boy goes out for football. To prove to himself and his parents that he is a man. (dependent clause) She opened the door and let us into her home. Not realizing at the time that we would never enter that door in her home again. (dependent clause) Making up his mind quickly. Jim ordered two dozen red roses for his wife. Hoping she would accept his apology. (dependent clause) They were all having a good time. Until one of Joe's oldest and best friends had a little too much to drink. (dependent clause) Resource: Purdue OWL Engagement