Polished business writers ensure that their sentences are complete and correctly
Polished business writers ensure that their sentences are complete and correctly punctuated. Three common sentence errors are fragments, run-ons, and comma splices.
Fragments
Fragments are incomplete sentences because they are missing a subject, a verb, or a complete idea.
Missing Subject
A sentence fragment can occur if the sentence is missing a subject.
| Missing subject – Incorrect | Completed the report in light speed time. (who completed?) | Ran a security check on the software. (who ran?) |
|---|---|---|
| Corrected | Ryan completed the report in light speed time. | Rajeev ran a security check on the software. |
Missing Verb
A sentence fragment can occur if the sentence is missing a verb, includes an incorrect verb, or has an incomplete verb form.
| Missing or incorrect verb – Incorrect | An excellent video on product enhancement strategies. (verb is missing) | Rafael catched several errors when he ran a systems check. (incorrect verb form) | Rafael watch the training video on product enhancement strategies, tomorrow. (incomplete verb) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Corrected | An excellent video on product enhancement strategies is available. | Rafael caught several errors when he ran a systems check. | Rafael will watch the training video on product enhancement strategies, tomorrow. |
Incomplete Clause
A sentence fragment can occur if the sentence is an incomplete thought.
| Incomplete thought – Incorrect | As soon as the client left. (what happened?) | When we started to explore CSR initiatives. (what happened?) | After she re-booted her computer. (what happened?) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Corrected | As soon as the client left, we carefully reviewed her concerns. | When we started to explore CSR initiatives, we discovered we have to reconsider our yearly plan. | After she re-booted her computer, she was able to access the material. |
Incorrectly Used Phrases or Transition Words
A sentence fragment can occur if the sentence includes incorrectly used phrases or transition words.
| Incorrect transition or phrase – Incorrect | Such as a computer speed. | And those points about testing reliability. |
|---|---|---|
| Corrected | Things, such as computer speed, should be considered before you make your purchase. | Those points about testing reliability are critical to our research. |
Fragments can be corrected by adding the missing information to make the sentences complete.
Run-ons
Run-ons occur when two independent clauses are joined without punctuation.
- Elon Musk is a world-famous entrepreneur his recent purchase of Twitter has given rise to much speculation.
- Margaret Van Dyck deals with customer service complaints Bonita Kersey deals with credit card payments.
- The new reporting software has many benefits I’m still learning how to use it.
The examples above contain two independent clauses, so they require correct punctuation.
Comma Splices
Comma splices occur when two independent clauses are joined with a comma. Two independent clauses cannot be j