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While readers sometimes pay too much attention to mechanics issues in papers and fail to look at the substance, too many mechanical errors can seriously jeopardize the readability and impact of your writing. To avoid the pitfall of mechanical errors, you can learn to proofread your paper for such errors so that your paper makes a better impression.
Comma Splices and Run-on SentencesA comma splice occurs when two or more independent clauses are joined with a comma. A run-on sentence occurs when two independent or more independent clauses are joined with no punctuation.
Example comma splice : The Corps of Cadets are considered the “Keepers of the Aggie Spirit,” the Fightin’ Texas Aggie Band is called the “Spirit of Aggieland.”
Example run-on : The Corps of Cadets are considered the “Keepers of the Aggie Spirit” the Fightin’ Texas Aggie Band is called the “Spirit of Aggieland.”
To write this sentence correctly, you have several options:
- Replace the comma with a semicolon.
Example : The Corps of Cadets are considered the “Keepers of the Aggie Spirit;” the Fightin’ Texas Aggie Band is called the “Spirit of Aggieland.”Sometimes the semicolon is followed by a conjunctive adverb which is followed by a comma. Some conjunctive adverbs are however, therefore, nevertheless, thus, moreover, consequently, etc.
- Add a coordinating conjunction after the comma.
Example : The Corps of Cadets are considered the “Keepers of the Aggie Spirit,” and the Fightin’ Texas Aggie Band is called the “Spirit of Aggieland.”To remember the coordinating conjunctions think of A. B. Fonsy (and, but, for, or, nor, so, yet).
- Make the two clauses two separate sentences.
Example : The Corps of Cadets are considered the “Keepers of the Aggie Spirit.” The Fightin’ Texas Aggie Band is called the “Spirit of Aggieland.”
FragmentsThe sentence fragment occurs when a sentence is not a complete thought or is missing a subject or verb.
Example fragment : When I went to Chilifest in Snook.
To correct the fragment, simply complete the thought.
Example : When I went to Chilifest in Snook, I rode the bus from Zachary parking lot.
Homonymic Spellings In our age of word processors and spelling checkers, the hazard of misspelling may seem to be a thing of the past. What spelling checkers miss most frequently, however, are homonymic spellings, words that sound the same but are spelled differently. The only way to catch these errors is to proofread your work before turning it in. Here are some examples of these words to watch out for:
| You’re/your | it’s/its | they’re/their/there | to/two/too | accept/except |
Modifiers
The perils of modifiers can be hazardous, but by remembering a simple rule you can rid your writing of misplaced modifiers. The rule is that the modifier should be as close to the word it is referring to as possible. Always strive for clarity in your writing.
Example misplaced modifier: Broken and beaten after the game, the messy locker room looked like a dungeon to the exhausted Longhorn team.
The modifier in the sentence is “Broken and beaten after the game.” In the example above, it modifies the subject of the main clause, the locker. To clarify this sentence, simply move the referent (the Longhorns) closer to the modifier:
Example of properly placed modifier : Broken and beaten after the game, the exhausted Longhorn team trudged to the messy, dungeon-like locker room.
Another modifier problem might involve an issue of clarity.
Example of unclear modifier : When only a lad, my father took me to Kyle Field.
Who was “only a lad”? As it is, the "When only a lad" modifies the nearest subject, "my father." To avoid this confusion, clarify the modifier.
Example of clear modifier: When I was only a lad, my father took me to Kyle Field.
For more information on major mechanics errors and how to avoid them, consult The Longman Handbook for Writers and Readers, or any freshman composition text.
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