What is a common error in a sentence?

Answer 1

The most common sentence errors are structure errors: run-ons and fragments.

A run-on occurs when two or more complete sentences are put together improperly. There are really only two ways to correctly put complete sentences together. The first is with a semicolon (;). Semicolons almost always work just like periods, so they can be put between sentences. The second way is with a comma along with a coordinate conjunction (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so). Just a comma by itself is not an appropriate way to put sentences together.

For example, "the dog ate he wasn't hungry" and "the dog ate, he wasn't hungry" are run-ons, but "the dog ate; he wasn't hungry" and "the dog ate, but he wasn't hungry" are both ok.

The second type of major sentence structure error is the fragment, or incomplete sentence.

Sentences that are missing subjects or verbs are fragments. Fragments often have incomplete verbs,like -ing words and to+verb. For instance, "the boy walking his dog" is a fragment. I would need to write "the boy is walking his dog" in order to have a complete sentence.

The more common type of fragment does have a complete subject and verb. The problem is that it also has a subordinate conjunction (since, while, before), and that is what makes it a fragment.

This kind of clause is a fragment when it is hanging by itself. Put a complete sentence attached to them to fix them. For example, "while the dog ate" by itself is a fragment, but if I add a complete sentence, "while the dog ate, the cat slept," then I'm ok. To find these fragments, first familiarize yourself with the subordinate conjunctions. Then search for them in your own writing. When you find one, take a close look to be sure you have attached an independent clause to it.