As you write and revise, ask yourself—

Does each sentence express a complete thought?

Have I accidentally combined two or more ideas?

Here’s the Idea

Sentence Fragment

A sentence fragment is a part of a sentence that is punctuated as if it were a complete sentence.

Here’s the Idea

Sometimes a fragment occurs because the subject or verb is left out.

STUDENT MODEL

Pizza has a long and colorful history. According to legend, the tomato-based pizza its start in 1889. In the United States opened in New York City in 1905.

DRAFT

MISSING VERB

MISSING SUBJECT

Here’s the Idea

STUDENT MODEL STUDENT MODEL

DRAFT

Pizza has a long and colorful history. According to legend, the tomato-based pizza its start in 1889. In the United States opened in New York City in 1905.

REVISION

Pizza has a long and colorful history. According to legend, the tomato-based pizza got its start in 1889. The first pizzeria in the United States opened in New York City in 1905.

Here’s the Idea

STUDENT MODEL

A phrase that stands alone is a fragment.

FRAGMENT

DRAFT

The next milestone in the history of pizza occurred. After World War II.

Here’s the Idea

STUDENT MODELSTUDENT MODEL

FRAGMENT

DRAFT

The next milestone in the history of pizza occurred. After World War II.

COMPLETE SENTENCE

REVISION

The next milestone in the history of pizza occurred after World War II.

Here’s the Idea

Fragments often occur because a subordinate clause is mistaken for a complete sentence.

STUDENT MODEL

FRAGMENT

DRAFT

Merchants claimed tea could cure headaches, sleepiness, and even paralysis. When tea was first sold in England in the 1600s.

Here’s the Idea

STUDENT MODELSTUDENT MODEL

DRAFT

Merchants claimed tea could cure headaches, sleepiness, and even paralysis. When tea was first sold in England in the 1600s.

CLAUSE

REVISION

When tea was first sold in England in the 1600s, merchants claimed it could cure headaches, sleepiness, and even paralysis.

Here’s the Idea

A sentence fragment does not express a complete thought. It is missing important information.

Why It Matters

Rewrite each fragment as a complete sentence.

The navel orange to the United States from Brazil.

1.

Practice and Apply

Rewrite each fragment as a complete sentence.

When he went into the kitchen.2.

Practice and Apply

Rewrite each fragment as a complete sentence.

Chocolate from the bean of the cacao tree.

3.

Practice and Apply

Rewrite each fragment as a complete sentence.

Invented stone grills for cooking.4.

Practice and Apply

Rewrite each fragment as a complete sentence.

Because she went to the farmer’s market.

5.

Practice and Apply

Writing Complete Sentences

Writing Complete Sentences

Here’s the IdeaRun-On Sentences

Why It Matters

Practice and Apply

Run-On Sentence

A run-on sentence is two or more sentences written incorrectly as one.

Here’s the Idea

STUDENT MODEL

The passage is actually two sentences written incorrectly as one.

DRAFT

Pineapples probably originated in what is now Brazil Spanish explorers called them piñas because they thought the fruit looked like a pine cone.

What is wrong with this sentence?

Here’s the Idea

STUDENT MODELSTUDENT MODEL

DRAFT

Pineapples probably originated in what is now Brazil Spanish explorers called them piñas because they thought the fruit looked like a pine cone.

REVISION

Pineapples probably originated in what is now Brazil. Spanish explorers called them piñas because they thought the fruit looked like a pine cone.

Here’s the Idea

Sometimes a run-on sentence is missing correct punctuation or a conjunction.

STUDENT MODEL

DRAFT

The tomato has had many names, the Aztecs called it tomatl some English people called it “tommytoe” when it was introduced there.

Here’s the Idea

STUDENT MODEL

DRAFT

The tomato has had many names, the Aztecs called it tomatl some English people called it “tommytoe” when it was introduced there.

STUDENT MODEL

REVISION

The tomato has had many names. The Aztecs called it tomatl, and some English people called it “tommytoe” when it was introduced there.

Here’s the Idea

As you revise your writing, use correct punctuation and conjunctions to make it clear where one idea ends and another begins.

Why It Matters

Rewrite this run-on sentence correctly.

Candy was created in Europe cooks dipped fruit into melted sugar.

6.

Practice and Apply

Rewrite this run-on sentence correctly.

Soft drinks were invented in the United States the first were fruit juice, sugar, and carbonated water.

7.

Practice and Apply

Rewrite this run-on sentence correctly.

Ice cream was invented by the Chinese around 2000 B.C. many people still enjoy it today.

8.

Practice and Apply

Rewrite this run-on sentence correctly.

Julia Child had not intended to be a cook she studied history in college.

9.

Practice and Apply

Rewrite this run-on sentence correctly.

A disease killed Ireland’s potato crop more than a million Irish died from hunger.

10.

Practice and Apply