A sentence consists of a subject and predicate (verb). Another way of talking about a sentence is as a clause. An independent clause is a sentence that includes subject and verb and can stand on its own—hence “independent.” There is another type of clause, a dependent clause, which includes subject and verb but cannot stand as a sentence on its own because it depends on elements that are not part of the dependent clause.

Examples of independent clause/complete sentences: Jessica noticed the time on the clock was wrong again. She thinks that clock needs new batteries.

Example of a complex sentence with both dependent and independent clause: Because the time was wrong again this week, Jessica thinks the clock needs new batteries. The first part of the sentence is a dependent clause; the second part is an independent clause.

Fragments

Fragments are incomplete sentences or dependent clauses that cannot stand on their own. 

Common sentence fragment errors:

• Sentence has one or more dependent clauses, but there is no independent clause.
  • Example: The singer who has a very beautiful voice.
• Examples with subordinating conjunction introducing dependent clause:
  • After Kiana quit her job.
  • Because there are not many art museums in smaller cities. 
  • Though she never learned how to cook, clean, or drive a car.

How to correct a sentence fragment error

Insert or combine the dependent clause with an independent clause:

• The singer, who has a very beautiful voice, had the crowd on the verge of tears. 
• Because there are not many art museums in smaller cities, they spent most of their time in Paris.

Or convert the dependent clause to an independent clause by removing the subordinating conjunction. 

• Kiana quit her job. 
• She never learned how to cook, clean, or drive a car.

Missing subject or predicate (verb)

• The damaged kitchen sink.
• Visited Seoul for the first time. 

How to correct a missing subject or predicate error

Identify which part of the sentence is missing; insert an appropriate noun or verb.

• The kitchen sink was damaged. 
• Ashley visited Seoul for the first time. 

Fused or run-on sentences

Fused or run-on sentences occur when a writer has connected two main clauses with no punctuation.

Example of a fused sentence: I didn’t have breakfast this morning I got up late because the neighbor’s dog kept me awake all night.

How to correct a fused or run-on sentence

Transform the independent clauses into two complete sentences by using a period at the end of the sentence. 

Example: I didn’t have breakfast this morning. I got up late because the neighbor’s dog kept me awake all night.
 

• Place a semicolon between the independent clauses when you want to keep the ideas linked.
  • I didn’t have breakfast this morning; I got up late because the neighbor’s dog kept me awake all night.
  • Reword the sentence to transform the two independent clauses into an independent and dependent clauses.
  • I didn’t have breakfast this morning because the neighbor’s dog kept me awake all night and I got up late.

Comma splice

A comma splice is a fused sentence where the independent clauses are joined with a comma.

Examples of comma splices:

• My family bakes together nearly every night, we then get to enjoy everything we make together. 
• I am not angry with you, I am not happy with you, either.
• My favorite bands are all really loud, playing loud music is good for stress relief.

How to correct a comma splice

Replace the comma with a period to make two separate sentences: 

• I am not angry with you. I am not happy with you, either. 
• My favorite bands are all really loud. Playing loud music is good for stress relief.

Replace the comma with a semicolon:

• I am not angry with you; I am not happy with you, either.
• My favorite bands are all really loud; playing loud music is good for stress relief.

Add a conjunction after the comma: 

• I am not angry with you, but I am not happy with you either. 
• My family bakes together nearly every night, and we then get to enjoy everything we make together.

Replacing the comma with a semicolon or adding a conjunction immediately after the comma connects the two independent clauses together in one sentence. Replacing the comma with a period creates two separate sentences out of the two independent clauses.