Common Sentence Errors:

Subject-Verb Agreement:

The subject of a sentence specifies who or what the sentence is about. The subject consists of a simple subject and a complete subject. The simple subject is the main noun or pronoun that the sentence is about. The complete subject consists of the simple subject and all the words that modify it.

Examples: The blue shoes are on the shelf.

In this sentence the simple subject is “shoes.” The complete subject is “the blue shoes.”

Subject-Verb Agreement relies on both the subject and verb being either singular or plural.

Incorrect: The students was late for class.

In this sentence, the subject “students” is plural while the verb “was” is singular.

Correct: The students were late for class.

In this sentence, both the subject “students” and the verb “were” are plural. Thus, the subject and verb are in agreement.

Incorrect: Jessica take the bus to school.

In this sentence, the subject “Jessica” is singular while the verb “take” is plural.

Correct: Jessica takes the bus to school.

In this sentence, both the subject “Jessica” and the verb “takes” are singular. Thus the

subject and verb are in agreement.

Fragments:

A sentence fragment is a word group that is attempting to function as a sentence but lacking an independent clause. In some circumstances, they can be easy to notice, but when placed near related sentences, it can become more difficult.

Example: The colony in the north.

There is no verb present to make the statement a complete thought.

I gathered the materials from all of the usual places.

The same databases and newspapers.

In the second part of this example, there is no verb present to complete the thought.

Therefore, “the same databases and newspapers” is a fragment.

Run-ons:

A run-on sentence occurs when independent clauses are not joined correctly. Run-on sentences are occasionally referred to as fused sentences. In a fused sentence, the two independent clauses are joined with no punctuation mark or coordinating conjunction.

Example: The family drove to the beach it was a beautiful day.

In this sentence, the two independent clauses are combined without using the correct

punctuation or conjunction.

Corrections: The family drove to the beach; it was a beautiful day.

The family drove to the beach, and it was a beautiful day.

To correct these sentences, one may use either a semicolon or a comma with a

coordinating conjunction.

Comma splices are another common error that create run-on sentences. A comma splice occurs when two or more independent clauses are joined by a comma without a coordinating conjunction.

Example: The baby is in his crib, he is sleeping.

In this sentence, the two independent clauses are combined using only a comma.

Correction: The baby is in his crib; he is sleeping.

The baby is in his crib, and he is sleeping.

To correct these sentences, one may use either a semicolon or a comma with a coordinating

conjunction.

Parallelism

A sentence may contain a series of words, , or . To make it , be consistent within the series: use with nouns, with verbs, clauses with subordinate clauses, and so on.

Not Parallel : He bought a tie, a shirt, and purchased a scarf.

Parallel : He bought a tie, a shirt, and a scarf.

The first sentence contains a series that is not consistent. The first two items are nouns, but the third – purchased a scarf – contains a verb. In the second sentence, all three items – tie, shirt, and scarf – are nouns.

Using Parallelism to Create Comparisons and Contrasts

Always compare like things; otherwise, your sentence won’t be parallel.

Not parallel : The mountains of the West are younger than the East.

This sentence compares things that are not alike: the mountains and the East.

You can correct this problem in two ways:

Parallel : The mountains of the West are younger than the mountains of the East.

Parallel : The mountains of the West are younger than those of the East.

Creating Parallelism with Correlative

Some pairs of words can help make sentences parallel. These are correlatives:

either … or; neither … nor; and not only … but also.

When you use these pairs, remember to join the same kinds of elements.

Not Parallel : In December, the weather is either cool, or we get a warming

trend with rain.

Parallel : In December, the weather is either cool or warm and rainy.

NOTE : In the first sentence, either introduces an adjective – cool – but or introduces a clause – we get a warming trend with rain. In the second sentence, or also introduces adjectives – warm and rainy.

Using That to Create Parallelism

You can use the relative pronoun that to introduce a subordinate clause. But be consistent if you use more than one subordinate clause. Make sure each is introduced the same way.

Not Parallel : I knew that I wouldn’t get there and my friends would be worried.

Parallel : I knew that I wouldn’t get there and that my friends would be worried.

NOTE : In the first example, one subordinate clause is introduced by that, the other isn’t. In the second example, both subordinate clauses are introduced by that, the sentence is parallel.