Choose punctuation to avoid fragments and run-ons

Key Notes:

What is a Sentence Fragment?

A fragment is an incomplete sentence ❌.
It doesn’t express a complete thought.

Examples:

• Fragment: Because I was tired. 😴
  • ❌ This is incomplete. What happened because you were tired?
• Corrected: Because I was tired, I went to bed early. 🛏️✅

What is a Run-on Sentence?

A run-on sentence is when two or more complete sentences are joined without proper punctuation 😵.

Examples:

• Run-on: I love reading I have many books.
  • ❌ No punctuation between the sentences.
• Corrected:
  • I love reading. I have many books. ✅
  • I love reading, and I have many books. ✅

Punctuation Marks to Fix Fragments and Run-ons

Punctuation	Use	Example
. (period)	To end a complete sentence	I like pizza. 🍕
, (comma)	To join clauses with a coordinating conjunction	I like pizza, and I like pasta. 🍝
; (semicolon)	To join related independent clauses without a conjunction	I like pizza; my brother prefers burgers. 🍔
: (colon)	To introduce a list or explanation	I need three things: pen, notebook, and eraser. ✏️📓🩹

Tips to Avoid Fragments

1. Make sure each sentence has a subject and a verb 👩‍🏫
2. Check if it expresses a complete thought 💭
3. Add missing parts or connect to another sentence with punctuation

Example:

• Fragment: Running late for school. 🏃‍♂️
• Corrected: I was running late for school. ✅

Tips to Avoid Run-ons

1. Use periods to separate complete sentences.
2. Use commas + conjunctions (and, but, or, so, yet, for, nor)
3. Use semicolons for closely related sentences

Example:

• Run-on: She loves music she plays the guitar every day. 🎸
• Corrected:
  • She loves music. She plays the guitar every day. ✅
  • She loves music, and she plays the guitar every day. ✅

Practice Examples

1. Fragment → Correct it: Because I forgot my homework
   • ✅ Because I forgot my homework, I stayed after class. 📚
2. Run-on → Correct it: I went to the park it started raining
   • ✅ I went to the park, but it started raining. 🌧️