2. Possible Sentence Structure Errors It is easy to make the following errors when attempting to write complex sentences. fragments: incomplete sentence or dependent clause Solution: Add an independent clause Incorrect: Since I often work late. Corrected: Since I often work late, my company pays for my dinner. run-on sentences: two or more independent clauses joined with no punctuation comma splices: two or more independent clauses connected with a comma
3. Five Solutions for run-on sentences and comma splices Incorrect: I often work late, my company pays for my dinner. Solution #1: Make two separate sentences Corrected: I often work late. My company pays for my dinner. Solution #2: Add a coordinating conjunction Corrected: I often work late, so my company pays for my dinner. Solution #3: Add a subordinating conjunction Corrected: Since I often work late, my company pays for my dinner. Solution #4: Add a transition Corrected: I often work late. As a result, my company pays for my dinner. Corrected: I often work late; as a result, my company pays for my dinner.
4. Solution #5: Make one independent clause into a prepositional phrase Corrected: Due to my working late, my company pays for my dinner.
5. Sentence Structure Activity The practice activity for this section requires that you read through a paragraph and correct the comma splice errors using the five methods we just discussed. Do your best!
