Avoiding Comma Splices and Starting Sentences with "Because

232 Najd

Starting a Sentence with ‘Because’



You can start a sentence with

because, as long as you make sure

to fully complete the sentence. One

clause beginning with the word

because

 does not constitute a

sentence.

Starting a Sentence with ‘Because’



These are fragments:



X

    Because the newspapers reported it.

X 

   Because the river ran dry.

Starting a Sentence with ‘Because’



You can start a sentence with

because

 if you follow it with a

complete independent clause.

Starting a Sentence with ‘Because’



These are complete sentences:





  Because the newspapers

       reported it, the neighbors

       believed it.





 Because the river ran dry, the dam

       would no longer provide

       electricity.

Comma Splices



Comma Splices



A comma splice is a type of run-

on whereby two independent

clauses—or complete

sentences—are incorrectly

joined by a comma.

Comma Splices



Example



Today I am tired, I will

take a nap later.

Comma Splices



Grammatical Error

: This

comma splice has two

independent clauses or

complete sentences joined

incorrectly by only a comma.

Comma Splices



Reasoning:

The first part of the

sentence ("Today I am tired") is an

independent clause or complete

sentence, and the second phrase ("I will

take a nap later") is also an

independent clause or complete

sentence. 

The two sentences need to be

joined by more than just a comma.

Comma Splices



There are 

three ways 

to

correct a comma splice,

and they are similar to the

three ways of correcting a

run-on.

Comma Splices



Corrected Example



1. Replace the comma with a

period and make two different

sentences.

Today I am tired. I will take a

nap later.

Comma Splices



2. Join the two sentences

correctly by 

adding a

coordinate conjunction

after the comma.

Today I am tired, so I will

take a nap later.

Comma Splices



3. Join the two separate

sentences correctly 

by

inserting a semi colon (;).

Today I am tired; I will

take a nap later.

Comma Splices



Decide if the following

sentences are comma splices

or a complete sentences.

Comma Splices



1.) John is always late for

       work, nobody seems to

         care.



a.) Comma splice



b.) Complete sentence

Comma Splices



Comma splice

Comma Splices



2.) Hot summer weather is

nice, high temperatures are

dangerous for certain people.



a.) Comma splice



b.) Complete sentence

Comma Splices



Comma Splice

Comma Splices



3.) Emily broke her ankle

on the weekend; now she is

in a great deal of pain.



a.) Comma splice



b.) Complete sentence

Comma Splices



Complete sentence

Comma Splices



4.) Driving the car is fast and

comfortable, riding the bicycle

is better for one's health.



a.) Comma splice



b.) Complete sentence

Comma Splices



Comma Splice

Comma Splices



5.) When a student likes

his class, he is more likely

to achieve good grades.



a.) Comma splice



b.) Complete sentence

Comma Splices



Complete sentence

Comma Splices



6.) James has an interview

with the PBS, I might get a

job as his assistant.



a.) Comma splice



b.) Complete sentence

Comma Splices



Comma splice

Comma Splices



7.) After I was paid last

week, I was able to do the

grocery shopping.



a.) Comma splice



b.) Complete sentence

Comma Splices



Complete sentence

Comma Splices



8.) Due to the fact that I am

so busy this week, I don't

have time for my animals.



a.) Comma splice



b.) Complete sentence

Comma Splices



Complete sentence

Comma Splices



9.) Whenever Janis does

not sleep enough, she

gets a horrible migraine.



a.) Comma splice



b.) Complete sentence

Comma Splices



Complete sentence

Comma Splices



10.) The air conditioner is

too loud, Cleo can't sleep.



a.) Comma splice



b.) Complete sentence

Comma Splices



Comma splice

Fragments



A fragment is an incomplete

sentence. It is missing one or more

of the following parts:



a subject



a verb



a coherent thought

Fragments



Example #1



Yesterday, while I was driving to

work and saw a bird in the

middle of the road out in the

storm.

Fragments



Grammatical Error

: This sentence fragment does not

contain an independent clause because of the word

"while." Therefore, it does not contain a complete

thought even though there is a subject and a verb.

Fragments



Reasoning: 

This sentence fragment does not tell you

what happened when you saw a bird sitting in the

middle of the road out in the storm.

Fragments



Example #1 (corrected)



Yesterday, while I was driving to work and saw a

sitting bird in the middle of the road out in the

storm, I thought it must have wandered away

from its nest.

Fragments



Example #2



When I went to the movies last week

and I ran into a friend.

Fragments



Grammatical Error: 

This sentence

fragment does not contain an

independent clause because of the

word "when." Therefore, it does not

contain a complete thought even

though there is a subject and a verb.

Fragments



Reasoning: 

This sentence

fragment does not tell you what

happened when you went to the

movies last week and ran into a

friend.

Fragments



Example 2 (corrected)



When I ran into a friend at

the movies last week, I

suggested we sit together.

Fragments



Select the choice that tells

whether the clause is a fragment

or a complete sentence.

Fragments



1.) While I was driving to work and there was

an accident on the road.



a.) Complete Sentence



b.) Fragment

Fragments



Fragment

Fragments



2

.) When I took my exam today, I

was very nervous.



a.) 

Complete Sentence



b.) Fragment

Fragments



Complete Sentence

Fragments



3.) Wherever I go, I take my cell

phone with me.



a.) Complete Sentence



b.) Fragment

Fragments



a.) Complete Sentence

Fragments



4.) If I don't take my cell phone, and

I need to make a call.



a.) Complete Sentence



b.) Fragment

Fragments



b.) Fragment

Fragments



5.) As soon as I finish this

grammar exercise, I will eat

lunch.



a.) Complete Sentence



b.) Fragment

Fragments



6.) Because I didn't have time to

write my paper and the computer

was broken anyway.



a.) Complete Sentence



b.) Fragment

Fragments



b.) Fragment

Fragments



7.) Before I go to the mall or maybe I

will see a movie instead.



a.) Complete Sentence



b.) Fragment

Fragments



b.) Fragment

Fragments



8.) Whether I complete this

course and get credit for it in the

fall.



a.) Complete Sentence



b.) Fragment

Fragments



b.) Fragment

Fragments



9.) Until I can learn to manage my time

better, I am afraid I will always be late.



a.) Complete Sentence



b.) Fragment

Fragments



a.) Complete Sentence

Fragments



10.) So that I don't spend too much

time on any of my projects, I make

sure I take frequent breaks.



a.) Complete Sentence



b.) Fragment

Fragments



a.) Complete Sentence

Run-on Sentences



A run-on contains two

independent clauses combined

without proper punctuation (or

two sentences in one).

Run-on Sentences



Example #1 (run-on)



Today I am tired I will take

a nap later.

Run-on Sentences



Grammatical Error: This run-on

has two separate independent

clauses, or complete sentences,

with no conjunction and no

punctuation.

Run-on Sentences



Reasoning: The first part of the sentence

"Today I am tired" is an independent clause

or a complete sentence, and the second

phrase "I will take a nap later" is also an

independent clause or a complete sentence.

Therefore, we have two sentences in one

without proper punctuation to connect

them.

Run-on Sentences



There are three ways to

correct a run-on:

Run-on Sentences



1. Separate the run-on by making

two different sentences.

Today I am tired. I will take a

nap later.

Run-on Sentences



2. Join the two sentences

correctly by adding a comma

and a coordinate conjunction.

Today I am tired, so I will

take a nap later.

Run-on Sentences



3. Join the two sentences correctly by

inserting a semi colon (;).

Today I am tired; I will take a nap

later.

Run-on Sentences



1.) My academic advisor told me not to

take 18 credit hours for the fall semester

I'm regretting not having listened to her.



a.) Run-on



b.) Complete sentence

Run-on Sentences



a.) Run-on

Run-on Sentences



2.) My cat was upset all day he didn't

get canned food for breakfast.



a.) Run-on



b.) Complete sentence

Run-on Sentences



a.) Run-on

Run-on Sentences



3.) Organizations that promise

students a scholarship if they pay an

extraordinarily high application fee

are most likely scams.



a.) Run-on



b.) Complete sentence

Run-on Sentences



b.) Complete sentence

Run-on Sentences



4.) Because Rose was late for the all-

you-can-eat buffet, she had to order

from the main menu.



a.) Run-on



b.) Complete sentence

Run-on Sentences



b.) Complete sentence

Run-on Sentences



5.) The student fell asleep in

class everyone thought this was

rude behavior.



a.) Run-on



b.) Complete sentence

Run-on Sentences



a.) Run-on

Run-on Sentences



6.) Although an immigration lawyer

might help me to stay in this

country, his fees are too expensive

for me to afford.



a.) Run-on



b.) Complete sentence

Run-on Sentences



b.) Complete sentence

Run-on Sentences



7.) I like the history class because

the material is explained so well.



a.) Run-on



b.) Complete sentence

Run-on Sentences



b.) Complete sentence

Run-on Sentences



8.) We followed the map we ended

up in Canada instead.



a.) Run-on



b.) Complete sentence

Run-on Sentences



a.) Run-on

Run-on Sentences



9.) Although the trip to Montreal was

not very well planned, we had a great

time.



a.) Run-on



b.) Complete sentence

Run-on Sentences



b.) Complete sentence

Run-on Sentences



10.) 

I received an A on my Psychology

test I am happy.



a.) Run-on



b.) Complete sentence

Run-on Sentences



a.) Run-on