3

L E S S O N

AVOIDING
FAULTY SENTENCES

A sentence is made up of words; a statement is made in words. . . .

Statements are made, words or sentences are used.
—John Langshaw Austin, British philosopher (1911–1960)

LESSON SU MMA RY
How do we distinguish between complete sentences and sen-
tence fragments, run-ons, and comma splices? Read this chapter
to find out.

B egin your study of complete sentences by looking at the Problem paragraph that appears on the next
page. Underline the groups of words that form complete sentences. See if you can distinguish them
from the fragments, run-ons, and comma splices included in the paragraph. Then check your work
against the Solution paragraph, also on the next page, where the complete sentences are underlined.

27

LE_WritingSkills4ed_[fin].indd 27 3/11/09 10:12:42 AM

 –AVOIDING FAULTY SENTENCES–

Problem Solution
Just the other day, I came home from work as excited Just the other day, I came home from work as excited
as I had ever been. The night before, someone from as I had ever been. The night before, someone from
Publisher’s Clearinghouse had called. To tell me that Publisher’s Clearinghouse had called. To tell me that
I would be receiving a prize package worth poten- I would be receiving a prize package worth poten-
tially millions of dollars. I was so excited because, tially millions of dollars. I was so excited because,
unlike other offers, this really sounded legitimate, it unlike other offers, this really sounded legitimate, it
sounded to me as though I might really win some- sounded to me as though I might really win some-
thing this time. I hastily opened the mailbox. Hoping thing this time. I hastily opened the mailbox. Hoping
to find the promised envelope. There it was. Between to find the promised envelope. There it was. Between
the Life magazine and the Fingerhut catalog. The the Life magazine and the Fingerhut catalog. The
promised letter. When I finally finished reading the promised letter. When I finally finished reading the
entire mailing. I realized my chances were really no entire mailing. I realized my chances were really no
better with this contest than they had been for any better with this contest than they had been for any
other contest I had entered in the past and I was dis- other contest I had entered in the past and I was dis-
appointed that I had spent so much time reading all appointed that I had spent so much time reading all
of the material then I threw it all in the recycling bas- of the material then I threw it all in the recycling bas-
ket and went to bed. Dejected. ket and went to bed. Dejected.

Complete Sentences 2. It has a subject (someone or something that per-

forms the action or serves as the main focus of
A complete sentence is a group of words that meets all the sentence). As with verbs, many sentences
three of the following criteria: have more than one subject.
Examples:
1. It has a verb (a word or phrase that explains an Bob and Alexandra both want a promotion.
action, such as want, run, take, give, or a state of Yurika drafted a memo and sent it to the sales
being, such as am, is, are, was, were, be). Many department.
sentences have more than one verb. The verbs in Herbert and Tan are the chief operators in this
the following sentences are highlighted for you. department.
Examples:
Bob and Alexandra both want a promotion. 3. It expresses a complete thought. In other words,
(action verb) the group of words has a completed meaning.
Yurika drafted a memo and sent it to the sales Sometimes, a group of words has both a subject
department. (action verbs) and a verb but still does not express a complete
Herbert and Tan are the chief operators in this thought. Look at the following examples. The
department. (state of being verb) subjects and verbs are highlighted to make them
easier to identify.

28

LE_WritingSkills4ed_[fin].indd 28 3/11/09 10:12:42 AM

 –AVOIDING FAULTY SENTENCES–

Complete sentences (also called independent These words can be used as subordinating
clauses): conjunctions:
I left an hour earlier than usual.
Our team finished its year-end evaluation. after once until
Roger tried to explain his position. although since when
Sentence fragments (also called dependent clauses): as than whenever
If I left an hour earlier than usual. because that where
When our team finished its year-end evaluation. before though wherever
Whenever Roger tried to explain his position. if unless while

Sometimes, a subordinating conjunction is a

Sentence Fragments phrase rather than a single word:

In the last set of examples, you may have noticed that each as if we didn’t already know
fragment is longer than the similar complete sentence. as though she had always lived in the town
The groups of words are otherwise the same, except the as long as they can still be heard
fragments have an extra word at the beginning. These as soon as I can finish my work
words are called subordinating conjunctions. If a group of even though you aren’t quite ready
words that would normally be a complete sentence is in order to proceed more carefully
preceded by a subordinating conjunction, you need so that all of us understand exactly
something more to complete the thought. These subordi-
nate or dependent clauses need something more to com- Subordinate clauses are only one type of sentence
plete their meaning; therefore, they depend on an fragment. Look at the questions in the table that fol-
independent clause, a group of words that by itself could lows. For each question, choose the group of words
form a complete sentence. Examine how the fragments that forms a complete sentence and put the corre-
have been rewritten here to express a complete thought. sponding letter in the box to the right. See if you notice
any similarities among the groups of words that are
If I left an hour earlier than usual, I would be able fragments.
to avoid rush hour.
When our team finished its year-end evaluation,
we all took the next day off.
Whenever Roger tried to explain his position, he
misquoted the facts.

WORD GROUP A WORD GROUP B ?

1. We are ready for the next task. Washing the car. 

2. Seeing the plane arrive. Heather’s family rushed to the gate. 
3. Broken after years of use. The receptionist finally got a new phone. 
4. We saw Andrea sitting all by herself. Imagining what Florida was like in March. 

29

LE_WritingSkills4ed_[fin].indd 29 3/11/09 10:12:42 AM

 –AVOIDING FAULTY SENTENCES–

The complete sentences are 1. A, 2. B, 3. B, and 3. Since the phone was broken after years of use, the
4. A. The fragments are simply phrases. They do not receptionist finally got a new one.
contain a subject or a verb. If you combine the two sets 4. We saw Andrea sitting all by herself, imagining
of words, both will be part of a complete sentence. See what Florida was like in March.
how this is done in the following examples. With some
of the sentences, all you need is a comma. With others, Now look at this table. In each set, one of the
you must add extra words to incorporate the phrase options is a complete sentence. The other is a frag-
into the rest of the sentence. ment. Put the letter of the complete sentence in the box
at the far right. See if you notice any similarities among
1. We are ready for the next task, which is washing the fragments.
the car.
2. Seeing the plane arrive, Heather’s family rushed
to the gate.

WORD GROUP A WORD GROUP B ?

1. About the way he combs his hair. I’ve noticed something very strange. 
2. My aunt is a respiratory therapist. A person who helps people rebuild their lungs 
and circulatory system.

3. Benjamin saw a piece of key lime pie. His favorite type of dessert. 
4. And tried to sell popcorn and candy. We went door to door. 
5. During the rest of the afternoon. Everything went smoothly. 
6. Icy roads and hazardous weather. We couldn’t make the deadline. 
7. In the parking ramp near our building. I was fortunate to find a parking spot. 
8. And saw the picture of our company’s We read the morning paper. 
new owner.

9. We traveled through the desert all night. Without seeing a single car or building. 
10. We walked all over downtown. And applied for part-time jobs at theaters. 

30

LE_WritingSkills4ed_[fin].indd 30 3/11/09 10:12:43 AM

 –AVOIDING FAULTY SENTENCES–

The complete sentences are 1. B, 2. A, 3. A, 4. B, 5. 2. My aunt is a respiratory therapist, a person who

B, 6. B, 7. B, 8. B, 9. A, and 10. A. helps people rebuild their lungs and respiratory
Most of the fragments are phrases that can easily system.
be incorporated into a complete sentence using the 3. Benjamin saw key lime pie, his favorite type of
independent clause with which they are paired. Try to dessert.
do this yourself. Compare your sentences with the ver-
sions that follow. Take a look at sentences 4, 8, and 10. In these
Look at sentences 1, 5, 7, and 9. The fragments in sentences, the fragment is a verb (action) separated
these sentences were nothing more than phrases sepa- from the independent clause or the complete sentence.
rated from the independent clauses. All you need to do All that is required is to add the fragment to the
is add the fragment to the complete sentence in a spot sentence.
where it fits. No punctuation or additional words are
needed. 4. We went door to door and tried to sell popcorn
and candy.
1. I’ve noticed something very strange about the 8. We read the morning paper and saw the picture
way he combs his hair. of our company’s new owner.
5. Everything went smoothly during the rest of the
10. We walked all over downtown and applied for
afternoon.
7. I was fortunate to find a spot in the parking ramp part-time jobs at theaters.
near our building.
9. We traveled through the desert all night without Finally, look at the remaining sentence, 6. In this
seeing a single car or building. sentence, extra words are needed to add the fragment
to the sentence.
Now examine sentences 2 and 3. These fragments
are phrases that explain or further identify something 6. We couldn’t make the deadline because of the icy
in the complete sentence. Such phrases are called roads and hazardous weather.
appositive phrases. All you need to do is place a comma
after the word being explained or identified, and then
add the appositive phrase.

31

LE_WritingSkills4ed_[fin].indd 31 3/11/09 10:12:43 AM

 –AVOIDING FAULTY SENTENCES–

Run - On Sentences 3. By turning one of the independent clauses into a

dependent clause. To do this, you need to add a
An independent clause is a group of words that could subordinating conjunction where it fits in the
be a complete sentence all by itself. A run-on sentence sentence. This can usually be done in two differ-
is one in which independent clauses have been run ent ways: by rewording the clauses or by using
together without punctuation (a period, semicolon, or different subordinating conjunctions. Remember
comma). the list of subordinating conjunction you saw
earlier in this lesson?
Examples:
Lynn moved from Minneapolis her job was Lynn moved from Minneapolis because her job
transferred. was transferred.
The concert seemed unending it lasted almost When her job was transferred, Lynn moved from
until midnight. Minneapolis.
We got some gas then we headed off to Omaha. Since the concert lasted almost until midnight, it
seemed unending.
All three examples can be corrected quite easily The concert seemed unending because it lasted
in one of three ways: until almost midnight.
After we got some gas, we headed off to Omaha.
1. By adding a period and a capital letter. We headed off to Omaha after we got some gas.

Lynn moved from Minneapolis. Her job was Practice

transferred. Choose the complete sentence. Watch for fragments as
The concert seemed unending. It lasted almost well as run-ons. Answers are at the end of the lesson.
until midnight.
We got some gas. Then we headed off to 1. a. The puppy chewed on everything. And ruined
Omaha. my favorite shoes.
b. The puppy chewed on everything and ruined
2. By adding a comma and a conjunction (and, but, my favorite shoes.
or, for, nor, yet, so). Sometimes, you have to
change the order of the words. 2. a. Julie is a loyal friend. She helps whenever she
is needed.
Lynn’s job was transferred, so she moved from b. Julie is a loyal friend she helps whenever she is
Minneapolis. needed.
The concert seemed unending, for it lasted almost
until midnight. 3. a. Paula bought a new car in February she picked
We got some gas, and then we headed off to it up only last week.
Omaha. b. Paula bought a new car in February. She
picked it up only last week.

32

LE_WritingSkills4ed_[fin].indd 32 3/11/09 10:12:43 AM

 –AVOIDING FAULTY SENTENCES–

4. a. Lisa lost five pounds. After only one week on Comma Splices
the new diet.
b. Lisa lost five pounds after only one week on A comma splice is the last kind of sentence fault you
the new diet. will study today. It is actually a special type of run-on
sentence in which a comma is used in place of a semi-
5. a. You can register for the class in the office on colon to join two independent clauses without a con-
the second floor. junction. A comma splice can be corrected by putting
b. You can register for the class. In the office on a semicolon in place of the comma or by adding a
the second floor. conjunction after the comma.

6. a. Samantha needs a few more days to finish Wrong:

the report it is more involved than she Henry lives across the street, he has been there for
anticipated. 25 years.
b. Samantha needs a few more days to finish Correct:
the report. It is more involved than she Henry lives across the street; he has been there for
anticipated. 25 years.
Henry lives across the street, and he has been
7. a. My sister’s new friend Lisa came for dinner. there for 25 years.
And she brought her mom’s famous chocolate Wrong:
cream pie for dessert. Mary heads the search committee, John is the
b. My sister’s new friend Lisa came for dinner, recorder.
and she brought her mom’s famous chocolate Correct:
cream pie for dessert. Mary heads the search committee; John is the
recorder.
8. a. Tanya completed the form she gave it to the Mary heads the search committee, and John is
receptionist. the recorder.
b. Tanya completed the form, and she gave it to Wrong:
the receptionist. Sid gave demonstrations all summer long, he
returned in the fall.
9. a. Louis was eager to see the dentist his tooth- Correct:
ache was getting worse. Sid gave demonstrations all summer long; he
b. Louis was eager to see the dentist. His tooth- returned in the fall.
ache was getting worse. Sid gave demonstrations all summer long, but he
returned in the fall.
10. a. Jenny looked for a bank that offered better
interest rates.
b. Jenny looked for a bank. Offered better
interest rates.

33

LE_WritingSkills4ed_[fin].indd 33 3/11/09 10:12:43 AM

 –AVOIDING FAULTY SENTENCES–

Practice Rewrite the fragments, run-ons, and comma

Here is an opportunity to apply what you have learned splices as complete sentences in the following space.
about complete sentences, fragments, run-ons, and
comma splices. In each of the following numbered
items, decide whether the group of words is a correctly
written sentence or sentences (S), a fragment (F), a
run-on sentence (ROS), or a comma splice (CS). Write
the label next to each number, and then check your
work against the answer key at the end of the lesson.
You may recognize some of these sentences from the
opening example paragraph. By now, you know how
to correct the ones that were not complete sentences.

11. Dr. Anders left detailed care instructions for the

patient. A personal friend of his.

12. The night before, someone from Publisher’s

Clearinghouse had called. To tell me that I would
be receiving a prize package worth potentially
millions of dollars.

13. I was so excited because unlike the other offers,

this really sounded legitimate, it sounded to me
as though I might really win something this time.

14. I hastily opened the mailbox. Hoping to find the

promised envelope.

15. There it was. The promised letter.

16. Because I couldn’t wait to open it to read its contents.

17. The officer responded to the call, he received it at

8:10 p.m.

18. Emily posted the last transaction it was time to

close the books for the day.

19. Our new computer system is still not working

properly.

20. Even though a computer repair man had looked at

the system and deemed it in proper working order.
34

LE_WritingSkills4ed_[fin].indd 34 3/11/09 10:12:44 AM