Common Grammar Questions:

What is a sentence fragment?
A sentence fragment is a partial sentence punctuated as if it were a complete sentence lacking subject and verb.
(example: Like scratching an itch.)

When should I use a comma?
There are three primary uses for commas.

1) A comma should be used to signal that some element, a word or cluster of related words, is being set off from a main sentence for a reason. (Example: My mother sent me to the store for apples, bread, milk and cheese.) 

2) A comma should be placed before the conjunction (and, but, or, for, or so) joining two independent clauses (see below). (Example: The faucet stopped working, and the sink leaks.) Leaving out this comma causes a "run-on" sentence. Placing a comma between two independent clauses without the conjunction (and, but, for, so, etc.) is called a "comma splice."

3) Use a comma to set off introductory words or word groupings from the main part of the sentence. (Example: Once the computer was turned on, the professor could demonstrate the assignment to the class.)

What is a dependent clause?
A dependent clause is a subordinate clause that cannot stand alone.  It is usually introduced either with a subordinate conjunction (e.g., while) or with a relative pronoun (e.g., when). (Example: When I was seventeen.)

What is an independent clause?
An independent clause is basically a sentence. It can stand alone as a complete thought.
(Example: The biology exam was extremely difficult.)

When should I use a semi-colon instead of a comma?
Use a semi-colon when you are listing items in a series that contain a comma. (Example: I have recently visited Baltimore, Maryland; Portland, Oregon; and Los Angeles, California.)

When should I use a semi-colon instead of a period?
Use a semi-colon when you are joining two independent clauses that are closely linked by a conjunctive adverb, or when the second independent clause is an extension of the idea presented in the first. (Example: Historical researchers cannot control the events they want to receive; indeed, often they cannot even find enough documentation to learn all the facts.)
 
What is a comma splice?
A comma splice fails to distinguish the end of one independent sentence and the beginning of the next independent sentence but marks the boundary between the two incorrectly with a comma. (Example: Mr. Johnson is an awful professor, Mrs. Johnson is too.)

What is a fused sentence (run-on)?
A fused sentence fails to distinguish the end of one independent clause and the beginning of the next independent clause. (Example: Jim’s major is Elementary Education his minor is Mathematics.)

How can I correct a fused sentence or comma splice?
1.    Separate independent clauses with a period. (Example: Choosing a topic is one of the first steps in writing a research paper. Some consider it to be the most important step.)

2.    Link clauses with a comma and a coordinating conjunction. (Example: January may be the coldest month, but it is a month of great productivity.)

3.    Link clauses with a semi-colon. (Example: Wind is one cause of erosion; water is another cause.)

4.    Link clauses with a semi-colon (or period) and a conjunctive adverb. (Example: Jim missed the bus. However, he was able to get a ride with Sally.)

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