English Composition 101: Grammar and Style - Common Errors Fragments Runons Comma Splices SubjectVerb Agreement PronounAntecedent Agreement Faulty Parallelism MisplacedDangling Modifiers Tense Shifts

Study Guide: Common Errors in Composition

Fragments

What It Is

A fragment is a group of words that doesn't express a complete thought. For example: "Walking down the street." This sentence is a fragment because it lacks a verb. In academic writing, fragments can make your ideas seem unclear or incomplete.

Core Principles

• A complete sentence must have a subject (noun or pronoun) and a verb (action or linking word).
• Fragments often lack a verb or a subject.
• Identify the subject and verb in each sentence.
• Use a period to separate complete sentences.
• Use a comma to separate clauses that could stand alone as complete sentences.
• Example: "I went to the store, and I bought milk." (Two complete sentences joined with a comma.)
• Example: "I went to the store and bought milk." (A run-on sentence, which we'll discuss next.)

Run-ons

What It Is

A run-on is two or more complete sentences joined without proper punctuation. For example: "I went to the store I bought milk." This sentence is a run-on because it lacks proper punctuation to separate the two complete sentences. In academic writing, run-ons can make your ideas seem jumbled or unclear.

Core Principles

• Use a period (.) to separate complete sentences.
• Use a comma (,) to separate clauses that could stand alone as complete sentences.
• Use a semicolon (;) to separate closely related complete sentences.
• Example: "I went to the store; I bought milk." (Two complete sentences joined with a semicolon.)
• Example: "I went to the store, and I bought milk." (Two complete sentences joined with a comma.)

Comma Splices

What It Is

A comma splice is a comma used to join two complete sentences without proper punctuation. For example: "I went to the store, I bought milk." This sentence is a comma splice because it uses a comma to join two complete sentences without proper punctuation. In academic writing, comma splices can make your ideas seem unclear or incomplete.

Core Principles

• Use a period (.) to separate complete sentences.
• Use a comma (,) to separate clauses that could stand alone as complete sentences.
• Use a semicolon (;) to separate closely related complete sentences.
• Example: "I went to the store; I bought milk." (Two complete sentences joined with a semicolon.)
• Example: "I went to the store, and I bought milk." (Two complete sentences joined with a comma and a conjunction.)

Subject-Verb Agreement

What It Is

Subject-verb agreement refers to the relationship between a subject (noun or pronoun) and its verb (action or linking word). For example: "The team are playing well." This sentence is incorrect because the subject "team" is singular, but the verb "are" is plural. In academic writing, subject-verb agreement is crucial for clarity and accuracy.

Core Principles

• Singular subjects take singular verbs.
• Plural subjects take plural verbs.
• Use singular verbs with singular subjects (e.g., "The team is playing well").
• Use plural verbs with plural subjects (e.g., "The teams are playing well").
• Example: "The team is playing well." (Singular subject, singular verb.)
• Example: "The teams are playing well." (Plural subject, plural verb.)

Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement

What It Is

Pronoun-antecedent agreement refers to the relationship between a pronoun (word that replaces a noun) and its antecedent (the noun it replaces). For example: "The manager gave the employee a raise, he was very happy." This sentence is incorrect because the pronoun "he" doesn't agree with the antecedent "employee." In academic writing, pronoun-antecedent agreement is crucial for clarity and accuracy.

Core Principles

• Use singular pronouns with singular antecedents (e.g., "The manager gave the employee a raise, he was very happy").
• Use plural pronouns with plural antecedents (e.g., "The managers gave the employees a raise, they were very happy").
• Example: "The manager gave the employee a raise, he was very happy." (Singular pronoun, singular antecedent.)
• Example: "The managers gave the employees a raise, they were very happy." (Plural pronoun, plural antecedent.)

Faulty Parallelism

What It Is

Faulty parallelism occurs when words or phrases in a list or comparison are not grammatically parallel. For example: "I love reading books, writing stories, and to learn new things." This sentence is incorrect because the phrases "reading books" and "writing stories" are parallel, but "to learn new things" is not. In academic writing, faulty parallelism can make your ideas seem unclear or incomplete.

Core Principles

• Use parallel structures in lists or comparisons (e.g., "I love reading books, writing stories, and learning new things").
• Use similar verb forms in lists or comparisons (e.g., "I love reading books, writing stories, and writing poetry").
• Example: "I love reading books, writing stories, and to learn new things." (Faulty parallelism.)
• Example: "I love reading books, writing stories, and learning new things." (Parallel structures.)

Misplaced/Dangling Modifiers

What It Is

Misplaced or dangling modifiers occur when words or phrases are placed too far from the word they modify. For example: "Having studied all night, the exam was easy." This sentence is incorrect because the modifier "Having studied all night" is misplaced and doesn't clearly modify the subject "the exam." In academic writing, misplaced or dangling modifiers can make your ideas seem unclear or incomplete.

Core Principles

• Place modifiers close to the word they modify (e.g., "Having studied all night, I felt confident on the exam").
• Use clear and specific language to avoid ambiguity (e.g., "After studying all night, I felt confident on the exam").
• Example: "Having studied all night, the exam was easy." (Misplaced modifier.)
• Example: "Having studied all night, I felt confident on the exam." (Modifier placed close to the word it modifies.)

Tense Shifts

What It Is

Tense shifts occur when the verb tense changes within a sentence or paragraph. For example: "I was studying for the exam, but then I went to the party and I got distracted." This sentence is incorrect because the verb tense shifts from past to present. In academic writing, tense shifts can make your ideas seem unclear or incomplete.

Core Principles

• Use consistent verb tenses within a sentence or paragraph (e.g., "I was studying for the exam, but then I got distracted").
• Use clear and specific language to avoid ambiguity (e.g., "I was studying for the exam, but then I took a break").
• Example: "I was studying for the exam, but then I went to the party and I got distracted." (Tense shift.)
• Example: "I was studying for the exam, but then I took a break." (Consistent verb tense.)

Common Writing Errors

Error: "The team are playing well." Why it fails: The subject "team" is singular, but the verb "are" is plural. Correction: "The team is playing well."

Error: "I love reading books, writing stories, and to learn new things." Why it fails: The phrases "reading books" and "writing stories" are parallel, but "to learn new things" is not. Correction: "I love reading books, writing stories, and learning new things."

Error: "Having studied all night, the exam was easy." Why it fails: The modifier "Having studied all night" is misplaced and doesn't clearly modify the subject "the exam." Correction: "Having studied all night, I felt confident on the exam."

Quick Application

Scenario 1: You are arguing that college tuition should be free. Write a thesis statement.

Model Answer: "College tuition should be free because it would make higher education more accessible to all students, regardless of their financial background."

Explanation: This thesis statement clearly states the main argument and provides a roadmap for the rest of the essay.

Scenario 2: You are writing a paragraph about the benefits of exercise. Use parallel structures to list the benefits.

Model Answer: "Exercise has many benefits, including improving cardiovascular health, increasing muscle strength, and boosting mental well-being."

Explanation: This paragraph uses parallel structures to list the benefits of exercise, making it clear and easy to understand.

Scenario 3: You are writing a sentence about a person who studied all night. Use a modifier to describe the person's actions.

Model Answer: "Having studied all night, I felt confident on the exam."

Explanation: This sentence uses a modifier to describe the person's actions, making it clear and specific.

Last-Minute Revision

Use a period (.) to separate complete sentences.

Use a comma (,) to separate clauses that could stand alone as complete sentences.

Use a semicolon (;) to separate closely related complete sentences.

Use singular verbs with singular subjects.

Use plural verbs with plural subjects.

Use clear and specific language to avoid ambiguity.

Use consistent verb tenses within a sentence or paragraph.

Use parallel structures in lists or comparisons.

Place modifiers close to the word they modify.

Use a comma before a coordinating conjunction (e.g., "and," "but") in a compound sentence.

Use a semicolon before a transitional word or phrase (e.g., "however," "therefore") in a complex sentence.

Use a hyphen to join two words that function as a single unit (e.g., "self-portrait").

Use a colon (:) to introduce a list or a quotation.

Use a dash (-) to set off a parenthetical remark or a sudden change in thought.

Use a citation (e.g., MLA, APA) to credit sources in your writing.