ASST.PROF.DR.ELİF DEMİREL

COMMON SENTENCE ERRORS

Prepared by Meral Birinci

SENTENTIAL ERRORS IN WRITINGCOMMO SPLICE & FUSED SENTENCES (Run-

on Sentence)

SENTENCE FRAGMENT

NON-PARALEL STRUCTURE

COMMO SPLICES & FUSED SENTENCESCommo splices are sentence errors created

by using a commo alone to attach two sentence to each other.

Fused sentences occur when two complete sentences are joined together with no punctuation.

The following construction is an example of a comma splice:‘’ Woman will ask the question ,Man will

approve of the answer. This sentence can be revised the following

ways:Woman will ask the question. Man will

approve of the answer.Woman will ask the question; Man will

approve of the answer.Woman will ask the question, and man will

approve of the answer.

The comma splice most commonly seen is illustrated in the following sentence:In the past, Turkey had to deal with the

poverty, however, it has improved its economy due to some new regulations.

Conjunctive adverbs (like "however," "therefore," "moreover") or transitional phrases (like "in fact," "in addition") must be used with a semicolon when they connect two independent clauses. The sentence should be revised as follows:

In the past, Turkey had to deal with the poverty; however, it has improved its………

Compound sentences:

When two independent clauses are joined by a coordinating conjunction ("and," "but," "or," "nor," "for," "so," "yet") a comma must connect the two clauses. A frequently-seen faulty construction is a sentence without a comma:

Let’s revise it!‘’ Wiliam Blake is an English poet and

Stephen Crane is an American novelist." The sentence is fixed by adding a comma

before the coordinating conjunction: “William Blake is an English poet, and

Cather is an American novelist."

Bulleted ItemsFaulty punctuation of bullets is one of the

most common mistakes seen in writing. The following examples show different constructions of bulleted items and their correct punctuation.

Lead is a Sentence If the lead is a complete sentence but the bulleted items are only phrases or clauses, punctuate as shown.

Attention please!Major initiatives in the report include the following: (If

the lead contains the phrase "as follows" or "the following," always use a colon after it.)

• conversion of an old dormitory into administrative offices,

• development of new recreational facilities, and

• reduction of wasted classroom space. (Phrases begin with lowercase letters because they are not complete sentences. The bulleted items have no internal commas; thus, only commas are needed to separate each item.)

Bulleted items

If the bulleted items are punctuated as separate sentences, the lead should always be a sentence.

The new visitation policy includes three options for upper-class students. (Because the lead is a sentence and doesn't include either of the phrases "as follows" or "the following," it ends with a period.)

Option one allows visitation at any time. Option two allows visitation only on weekends.

Option three allows no visitation at all. (Because each bulleted item is a complete sentence, each one begins with a capital letter and ends with a period.)

Lead is not a sentence

If the lead is not a sentence, and the

bulleted items are phrases or clauses that complete the sentence, punctuate as shown in the following two examples:

.

This report includes information on the

registration policy,

new courses to be offered next year, and advising period.

In the past, the poor administration of the program has resulted in various problems. For example,

membership in the sponsoring organization has decreased and

very few service projects were accomplished

DO NOT LET THEM STAND ALONE!

SENTENCE FRAGMENT

FRAGMENTA fragmant is a group of words that cannot stand alone because it lacks a subject or a verb .Typically, a fragment is an extension of the sentence on its left.

In order to illustrate:

EX: I do not want to make a fragment. Because it lacks the harmony of the sentence as well as its meaning.

Correct the mistake

I do not want to make a fragment because it lacks the harmony of the sentence as well as its meaning.

Use this flowchart to test for sentence completeness Is there a verb? NO ≥≥≥ It is a fragment. √ YES Is there a subject? NO ≥≥≥ It is a fragment. √ YES Is the word group merely a dependent YES≥≥≥ It is a fragment.word group or phrase? √ NOIt is a sentence.

Journalists in magazines and newspapers sometimes write dependent clauses that follow on closely from the mainclause as sentences for emphasis. However, in academic and formal writing, fragment sentences of this kind should be avoided.

NON-PARALLEL STRUCTURE To make the ideas in your sentences

clear and understandable, you need to make your sentence structures grammatically balanced (i.e. parallel). This means that ideas in a sentence or paragraph that are similar should be expressed in parallel grammatical form

Parallel Structure Parallel grammatical form is needed for:

1. Lists of words, phrases and clauses 2. Parallel ideas presented as pairs 3. Essay headings and tables of conten

List of words, phrases, and clauses When ideas are presented in a series or a

list, the same parts of speech should be used to ensure parallel structure. This applies whether the list consists of single words, phrases or clauses—single words should be balanced with single words, phrases with phrases and clauses with clauses.

Single wordsSingle words should be matched with single words of

the same type (e.g. all nouns, all adverbs, all adjectives).

Non-parallel / The lecturer asked the students to speak in tutorials clearly, in a loud voice and not to be rude.

Parallel /The lecturer asked the students to speak in tutorials clearly, loudly and politely.

(ALL WORDS IN THE LIST ARE NOW ADVERBS) Groups of words (phrases) should be matched

Group of words Groups of words (phrases) should be matched with word

groups of the same pattern (e.g. noun phrases beginning with verb +-ing, prepositional phrases).

Example:

Non-Parallel/ Success at university depends on attending classes, reviewing your notes and to keep up with your readings.

Parallel/ Success at university depends on attending classes, reviewing your notes and keeping up with your readings.

(ALL WORDS IN THE LIST ARE NOW NOUN PHRASES BEGINNING WITH –ING WORDS

Clauses Clauses should be matched with clauses of the

same pattern (e.g. noun clauses, adverbial clauses, adjectival clauses).

Non-Parallel/The lecturer expected that the students would

present the seminar, that they would use PowerPoint presentations and be asking questions.

Parallel/ The lecturer expected that the students would present the seminar, that they would use PowerPoint presentation and that the class would ask questions.

Parallel ideas connected by conjunctions

Ideas that are joined with conjunctions need to be parallel in structure. By using similar grammatical forms to express equal ideas, your writing will be smooth and your writing style will improve.

Parallel ideas connected by conjunctions

Like ideas joined by 'and', 'but', 'or', 'nor', 'for', 'so', 'yet

She failed the essay but passed the final exam.

Her oral presentation was good, yet her essay was poor.

Parallel ideas connected by conjunctions

Comparisons joined by 'than' or 'as' Learning at university is more difficult than

studying at high school. Writing assignments is as important as

sitting for exams.

Parallel ideas connected by conjunctions

Ideas joined by pairs of conjunctions 'both…and', 'either…or', 'neither…nor', 'not only…but also', 'whether…or'

The assignment tasks need to be either submitted electronically or posted to the university assessment centre.

MY REFERENCESCollege writing centerTeaching & Learning Centre Fact Sheets

University of New Englandwww.rm.it.edu.ay/studyandlearningcenteruhu.edu./ac/workshops/sentenceerrors/

index.htm