Do not break a sentence in
two. (In
other words, do not use a period where a comma is needed.) |
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Details |
Incorrect Example |
Correct Example |
a) Don’t
split a compound sentence in half. |
We went down to the pond. And he followed us. If people would only stop and think. Then they wouldn’t make so many mistakes. |
We went down to the pond, and he followed us. If people would only stop and think, then they wouldn’t make so many
mistakes. |
b) Don’t
split a prepositional
phrase from the main part of the sentence. |
After the game. We went out for ice cream. |
After the game,
we went out for ice cream. |
c) Don’t
split a participle
phrase from the main part of the sentence. |
Running
as hard as she could. She
suddenly collapsed. |
Running
as hard as she could, she suddenly
collapsed. |
d) Don’t split an appositive from the main part of the
sentence. |
He
was ashamed of his mother. The
washerwoman who worked six days a week.
|
He
was ashamed of his mother, the washerwoman who worked
six days a week. |
e) Don’t split a dependent
clause from the main part of the sentence.
|
Because Jim left early. He missed seeing his friends. |
Because Jim left early,
he missed seeing his friends. |
f) Don’t
split a quote from the quote tag. |
“We’ll just see about that.” I said. |
“We’ll just see about that,” I said. |
Details |
Incorrect Example |
Correct Example |