Understanding and fixing common sentence errors in English is essential for clear, professional, and effective communication. Whether you are drafting a business proposal, writing an academic essay, or simply sending an email, grammatical mistakes can obscure your meaning and diminish your credibility.
This comprehensive guide breaks down the most frequent sentence-level mistakes—such as fragments, run-ons, comma splices, subject-verb agreement issues, and misplaced modifiers—and provides step-by-step instructions on how to correct them.
Grammar Rule, Definition, and Meaning
A grammatically correct English sentence requires three core components:
- A Subject: The person, place, thing, or idea doing the action.
- A Verb: The action performed or state of being.
- A Complete Thought: The clause must be able to stand alone independently.
When a sentence lacks one of these elements, or when multiple independent clauses are joined improperly, a sentence error occurs.
The 5 Most Common Sentence Errors
- Sentence Fragments: An incomplete sentence lacking a subject, verb, or complete thought.
- Run-on Sentences: Two or more independent clauses joined without any punctuation.
- Comma Splices: Two independent clauses joined only by a comma (without a coordinating conjunction like and, but, so).
- Subject-Verb Agreement Errors: When a singular subject is paired with a plural verb, or vice versa.
- Misplaced or Dangling Modifiers: Descriptive phrases that are placed too far from the word they describe, causing confusion.
Step-by-Step Explanation: How to Fix Sentence Errors
Follow these four steps to identify and correct errors in your writing:
Step 1: Find the subject and the verb.
Every sentence needs an actor (subject) and an action (verb). If you cannot find both, you have a fragment.
- Fix: Add the missing subject or verb.
Step 2: Check for a complete thought.
If the sentence starts with a subordinating conjunction (like because, although, if) but doesn’t finish the thought, it is a fragment.
- Fix: Connect the dependent clause to an independent clause.
Step 3: Analyze the punctuation between clauses.
If you have two complete thoughts (independent clauses), they cannot be mashed together (run-on) or separated by just a comma (comma splice).
- Fix: Use a period, a semicolon, or a comma plus a conjunction (and, but, or).
Step 4: Match subjects to verbs and modifiers to targets.
Ensure singular subjects use singular verbs. Make sure descriptive phrases are right next to the noun they describe to avoid modifier errors.
60+ Examples of Sentence Errors and Corrections
To build strong topical authority and provide maximum value, here are over 60 original examples categorizing correct and incorrect usage across different contexts.
1. Basic Examples (Fragments & Run-ons)
| Incorrect (Error) | Correct (Fixed) | Error Type |
| 1. Ran to the store. | She ran to the store. | Fragment (Missing Subject) |
| 2. The dog in the yard. | The dog in the yard barked. | Fragment (Missing Verb) |
| 3. Because it was raining. | We stayed inside because it was raining. | Fragment (Incomplete Thought) |
| 4. I love pizza I eat it daily. | I love pizza**.** I eat it daily. | Run-on |
| 5. He is tall she is short. | He is tall**, but** she is short. | Run-on |
| 6. The boy who cried. | The boy who cried was ignored. | Fragment |
| 7. We went home it was late. | We went home because it was late. | Run-on |
| 8. Waiting for the bus. | I am waiting for the bus. | Fragment |
| 9. She reads books she likes them. | She reads books ; she likes them. | Run-on |
| 10. Such as apples and oranges. | I like fruits, such as apples and oranges. | Fragment |
2. Intermediate Examples (Comma Splices & Agreement)
| Incorrect (Error) | Correct (Fixed) | Error Type |
| 11. The team are winning. | The team is winning. | Subject-Verb Agreement |
| 12. I like tea, she likes coffee. | I like tea, and she likes coffee. | Comma Splice |
| 13. One of the boxes are open. | One of the boxes is open. | Subject-Verb Agreement |
| 14. He studies hard, he gets A’s. | He studies hard**; therefore,** he gets A’s. | Comma Splice |
| 15. The list of items are long. | The list of items is long. | Subject-Verb Agreement |
| 16. It was cold, we lit a fire. | It was cold, so we lit a fire. | Comma Splice |
| 17. Neither of the cars work. | Neither of the cars works. | Subject-Verb Agreement |
| 18. I called him, he didn’t answer. | I called him, but he didn’t answer. | Comma Splice |
| 19. The bouquet of roses smell nice. | The bouquet of roses smells nice. | Subject-Verb Agreement |
| 20. She smiled, she was happy. | She smiled because she was happy. | Comma Splice |
3. Advanced Examples (Modifiers & Parallelism)
| Incorrect (Error) | Correct (Fixed) | Error Type |
| 21. Walking in the park, a dog bit me. | While I was walking in the park, a dog bit me. | Dangling Modifier |
| 22. She likes hiking, swimming, and to bike. | She likes hiking, swimming, and biking. | Faulty Parallelism |
| 23. To bake a cake, the oven must be hot. | To bake a cake, you must heat the oven. | Dangling Modifier |
| 24. He served sandwiches to the children on paper plates. | He served sandwiches on paper plates to the children. | Misplaced Modifier |
| 25. Her speech was clear, concise, and had a lot of emotion. | Her speech was clear, concise, and emotional. | Faulty Parallelism |
| 26. Exhausted, the bed felt incredibly comfortable. | Exhausted, he felt the bed was incredibly comfortable. | Dangling Modifier |
| 27. The manager wants to hire, to train, and retaining staff. | The manager wants to hire, train, and retain staff. | Faulty Parallelism |
| 28. I almost ate all the pizza. | I ate almost all the pizza. | Misplaced Modifier |
| 29. Covered in mud, my mom washed my pants. | My mom washed my pants, which were covered in mud. | Misplaced Modifier |
| 30. The software is fast, reliable, and costs very little. | The software is fast, reliable, and affordable. | Faulty Parallelism |
4. Daily Conversation Examples
| Incorrect | Correct |
| 31. Me and him went to the store. | He and I went to the store. |
| 32. I seen that movie yesterday. | I saw that movie yesterday. |
| 33. She don’t like spicy food. | She doesn’t like spicy food. |
| 34. There is too many people here. | There are too many people here. |
| 35. I could of done it better. | I could have done it better. |
5. Academic Writing Examples
| Incorrect | Correct |
| 36. The data shows a trend, it is significant. | The data shows a trend**;** it is significant. |
| 37. Although the study was flawed. | Although the study was flawed**, it provided useful insights.** |
| 38. The author’s conclusion, as well as her methods, are flawed. | The author’s conclusion, as well as her methods, is flawed. |
| 39. Having analyzed the results, the theory was proven. | Having analyzed the results, the researchers proved the theory. |
| 40. The survey measured age, income, and what people bought. | The survey measured age, income, and purchasing habits. |
6. Business & Professional Writing Examples
| Incorrect | Correct |
| 41. The company released their report. | The company released its report. |
| 42. Please review the attached document, let me know your thoughts. | Please review the attached document and let me know your thoughts. |
| 43. We must increase sales, reduce costs, and to maximize profit. | We must increase sales, reduce costs, and maximize profit. |
| 44. As a valued client, we want to offer you a discount. | Because you are a valued client, we want to offer you a discount. |
| 45. The board of directors are voting today. | The board of directors is voting today. |
7. Email Writing Examples
| Incorrect | Correct |
| 46. Looking forward to hear from you. | Looking forward to hearing from you. |
| 47. Let’s schedule a meeting for Tuesday, I am free at 2 PM. | Let’s schedule a meeting for Tuesday**.** I am free at 2 PM. |
| 48. Attached is the files you requested. | Attached are the files you requested. |
| 49. Hoping for a quick reply. | I am hoping for a quick reply. |
| 50. If you have any questions please contact me. | If you have any questions**,** please contact me. |
8. Common Mistake Pairings (ESL & Student Focus)
| Incorrect (Common Mistake) | Correct Usage |
| 51. I have been here since three years. | I have been here for three years. |
| 52. She explained me the problem. | She explained the problem to me. |
| 53. Every students must attend. | Every student must attend. |
| 54. I prefer coffee than tea. | I prefer coffee to tea. |
| 55. She is married with a doctor. | She is married to a doctor. |
| 56. I look forward to meet you. | I look forward to meeting you. |
| 57. Despite of the rain, we walked. | Despite the rain, we walked. |
| 58. I did a mistake. | I made a mistake. |
| 59. He suggested to go out. | He suggested going out. |
| 60. Does he has a car? | Does he have a car? |
Easy Tips to Remember
- The “FANBOYS” Rule: To fix comma splices, remember the coordinating conjunctions: For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So. Always put a comma before a FANBOYS conjunction when joining two complete sentences.
- The “Stand Alone” Test: Read your sentence out loud. If it sounds like a cliffhanger (e.g., “Because I was tired…”), it is a fragment. It must be able to stand alone.
- The “Ignore the Prepositional Phrase” Trick: When matching subjects and verbs, mentally cross out prepositional phrases. “The box (of chocolates) is empty.”
Practice Exercises
Identify the error in each sentence and rewrite it correctly.
- Walking to the store, the rain soaked my clothes.
- The group of students are studying in the library.
- I love writing it is my favorite hobby.
- She wants to travel, learning new languages, and eat local food.
- Because the alarm didn’t go off.
(Answers are at the bottom of the article.)
5-Question Quiz
Test your knowledge by choosing the correct sentence in each pair.
Q1. Which sentence is correct?
A) The list of rules are confusing.
B) The list of rules is confusing.
Q2. Which sentence avoids a comma splice?
A) I was tired, I went to bed early.
B) I was tired, so I went to bed early.
Q3. Which sentence has correct parallelism?
A) My goals are to read more, exercising daily, and to save money.
B) My goals are to read more, exercise daily, and save money.
Q4. Which sentence fixes the dangling modifier?
A) Hoping for a promotion, the extra hours were worth it.
B) Hoping for a promotion, she felt the extra hours were worth it.
Q5. Which sentence is NOT a fragment?
A) Even though the weather was terrible.
B) The weather was terrible.
Quiz Answers: 1: B | 2: B | 3: B | 4: B | 5: B
5 FAQs About Common Sentence Errors in English
1. What is the difference between a run-on sentence and a comma splice?
A run-on sentence joins two independent clauses with absolutely no punctuation (e.g., I ran he walked). A comma splice incorrectly joins them with only a comma (e.g., I ran, he walked). Both can be fixed with a semicolon, period, or a comma plus a conjunction.
2. Why do dangling modifiers happen?
Dangling modifiers occur when the noun that the phrase is meant to describe is missing from the sentence or placed too far away, causing the phrase to accidentally describe the wrong word.
3. Are sentence fragments ever acceptable?
In formal, academic, or business writing, fragments should be avoided. However, in creative writing, journalism, and casual conversation, fragments are often used for stylistic emphasis (e.g., “Not today.”).
4. How can I easily check for subject-verb agreement?
Isolate the main subject by ignoring any descriptive phrases set between commas or starting with prepositions (like “of,” “with,” “along with”). Match your verb directly to that core subject.
5. How do I improve my sentence structure over time?
Read widely, use grammar-checking software to catch repetitive mistakes, and practice reading your own writing aloud. Reading aloud forces you to hear unnatural pauses and missing words.
Conclusion on Common Sentence Errors in English
Mastering English sentence structure is a vital step toward becoming a confident and persuasive communicator. By learning to identify and eliminate common sentence errors in English—such as fragments, run-ons, comma splices, agreement errors, and misplaced modifiers—you ensure your writing remains professional and easy to understand. Bookmark this guide and return to the examples whenever you are proofreading your next important document or essay.
Answers to Practice Exercises
- While I was walking to the store, the rain soaked my clothes. (Dangling modifier fixed)
- The group of students is studying in the library. (Subject-verb agreement fixed)
- I love writing; it is my favorite hobby. (Run-on fixed)
- She wants to travel, learn new languages, and eat local food. (Parallelism fixed)
- Because the alarm didn’t go off, I was late for work. (Fragment fixed)
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Disclaimer:
The information provided in this article is for educational purposes only. While every effort has been made to ensure grammatical accuracy based on standard US and UK English conventions, stylistic preferences may vary depending on specific academic or corporate style guides (such as APA, MLA, or Chicago).
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