16 Sentence Problems & Fixes

A sentence contains a noun (person, place or thing), a verb (action), and is a complete thought.  A good sentence makes sense, is clear, and specific.  When there is a problem with the sentence, the reader fills in the blanks and make their own meaning, which may not be what you meant.

Three ways your sentence can break down: Fragment, Run-on, and Comma Splice.

Fragment

Your sentence does not have a noun, either stated or implied; does not have action; is not a complete thought, either stated or implied.  If it raises one or more questions – who, what happened, where – then revise to be clear what you mean.

Fragment:                                           Fix:

          Keziah goes.                                 Keziah goes shopping.

          Shut the door.  (This is an imperative sentence with the subject – You – implied).

          Paying the receptionist.               I am paying the receptionist.

Run-on

A Run-on sentence combines two or more sentences without effectively joining the ideas or events.  It results in lack of clarity and the reader decides how to make sense of the writing.  There are three ways to join sentences.

1. Use a conjunction and comma to avoid confusion. Conjunctions are known by the acronym FANBOYS: For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So.
2. Use a semi-colon between the sentences when the second part explains the first more.
3. Use a colon between the sentences when the second part relates to the first part, and can stand on its own.

Run-on:         Most writers struggle with a couple of words or style points common problems include faulty sentence structure, out-of-place modifiers, and poor word choices.                                             

Fix 1:                Most writers struggle with a couple of words or style points.  Common problems include faulty sentence structure, out-of-place modifiers, and poor word choices.

Fix 2:               Most writers struggle with a couple of words or style points; common problems include faulty sentence structure, out-of-place modifiers, and poor word choices.

Comma Splice

A comma splice joins two sentences with a comma but no conjunction.  It does not make the connection complete.

Comma splice:       Hairstyling is a physically exhausting profession, most of the time I’m too tired to even wash my own hair after work.

Fix 1:     Hairstyling is a physically exhausting profession, and most of the time I’m too tired to even wash my own hair after work.

Fix 2:     Hairstyling is a physically exhausting profession; most of the time I’m too tired to even wash my own hair after work.

Resources

University of Ottawa Hypergrammar. (2021). https://arts.uottawa.ca/writingcentre/en/hypergrammar

OWL Purdue. (2021). https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/general_writing/grammar/index.html