Sentence structure is the arrangement of words, phrases, and clauses in a sentence. It is the foundation of clear and effective communication in the English language. A well-structured sentence conveys meaning clearly and concisely, while poorly constructed sentences can lead to confusion and misinterpretation. 

Let’s look at some common sentence construction mistakes, how to avoid them, and other tips for improving sentence structure.

2 common sentence construction mistakes

Two main issues often arise when discussing common sentence construction mistakes: run-on sentences and sentence fragments.

Run-on sentences

Run-on sentences occur when two or more independent clauses are joined without proper punctuation or conjunctions. An independent clause is a group of words that can stand alone as a complete sentence, containing a subject and a predicate. When these clauses are incorrectly combined, it can lead to confusion and make it difficult for the reader to follow the writer’s train of thought.

Examples of run-on sentences:

  • “I love reading books I can spend hours lost in a good novel.” (Incorrect)
  • “She sang beautifully the audience was mesmerized.” (Incorrect)

To fix run-on sentences, you can:

Split them into separate sentences using appropriate punctuation:

  • “I love reading books. I can spend hours lost in a good novel.” (Correct)
  • “She sang beautifully. The audience was mesmerized.” (Correct)

Join the clauses using a comma and a coordinating conjunction (such as “and,” “but,” “or,” “so,” “yet,” “for,” or “nor”):

  • “I love reading books, and I can spend hours lost in a good novel.” (Correct)
  • “She sang beautifully, and the audience was mesmerized.” (Correct)

Sentence fragments

A sentence fragment is an incomplete sentence that lacks a subject, a predicate, or both. In other words, it doesn’t express a complete thought and cannot stand alone as a proper sentence.

Examples of sentence fragments:

  • “Running through the park.” (Incomplete – missing a subject)
  • “When he arrived at the party.” (Incomplete – dependent clause without an independent clause)

To correct sentence fragments, you need to:

Add the missing subject or predicate to create a complete sentence:

  • “She was running through the park.” (Complete sentence)

Connect the fragment to an independent clause:

  • “When he arrived at the party, he was greeted by his friends.” (Complete sentence)

For good sentence structure when writing, follow these simple tips:

Avoid run-on sentences 

Run-on sentences occur when two or more independent clauses are joined without proper punctuation or conjunctions. This can make the sentence difficult to read and understand. There are two main types of run-on sentences:

Comma splice

 A comma splice happens when two independent clauses are incorrectly joined by a comma without a coordinating conjunction (such as “and,” “but,” “or,” “so,” “yet,” “for,” or “nor”).

Examples of comma splices:

  • “I went to the store, I bought some groceries.” (Incorrect)
  • “She loves to sing, she takes lessons every week.” (Incorrect)

To fix comma splices, you can:

Replace the comma with a period and capitalize the first word of the second clause:

  • “I went to the store. I bought some groceries.” (Correct)
  • “She loves to sing. She takes lessons every week.” (Correct)

Add a coordinating conjunction after the comma:

  • “I went to the store, and I bought some groceries.” (Correct)
  • “She loves to sing, and she takes lessons every week.” (Correct)

Replace the comma with a semicolon:

  • “I went to the store; I bought some groceries.” (Correct)
  • “She loves to sing; she takes lessons every week.” (Correct)

Missing comma with a coordinating conjunction

This type of run-on sentence occurs when two independent clauses are joined by a coordinating conjunction without a comma preceding it.

Examples of missing commas with a coordinating conjunction:

  • “I like to read books but I don’t have much time for it.” (Incorrect)
  • “She’s an excellent cook so she often hosts dinner parties.” (Incorrect)

To fix this issue, simply add a comma before the coordinating conjunction:

  • “I like to read books, but I don’t have much time for it.” (Correct)
  • “She’s an excellent cook, so she often hosts dinner parties.” (Correct)

Avoid sentence fragments  

A sentence fragment is an incomplete sentence that lacks a subject, a predicate, or both. Fragments can confuse and disrupt the flow of writing. To avoid sentence fragments, ensure that each sentence has a clear subject and predicate, and be cautious when using dependent clauses or present participles.

Subjects and predicates

A complete sentence must have a subject (the person, place, thing, or idea that the sentence is about) and a predicate (the part of the sentence containing the verb and expressing what the subject does or is).

Example of a sentence with a clear subject and predicate:

  • “The curious child explored the garden.” (Correct – “The curious child” is the subject, and “explored the garden” is the predicate)
  • Missing predicate: A sentence fragment can occur when a sentence is missing a predicate.

Example of a missing predicate:

  • “The old, rusty bicycle in the garage.” (Incorrect – missing a predicate)

To fix this, add a predicate to create a complete sentence:

  • “The old, rusty bicycle in the garage hasn’t been used for years.” (Correct – “hasn’t been used for years” is the predicate)

Dependent clause on its own

A dependent clause contains a subject and a predicate but cannot stand alone as a complete sentence. When a dependent clause is written as a separate sentence, it becomes a fragment.

Example of a dependent clause on its own:

  • “Because she worked hard and stayed focused on her goals.” (Incorrect – dependent clause fragment)

To correct this, attach the dependent clause to an independent clause:

  • “She achieved success because she worked hard and stayed focused on her goals.” (Correct – the dependent clause is now connected to the independent clause “She achieved success”)

Misuse of the present participle

A present participle is a verb form ending in “-ing” that can be used as an adjective or to form a progressive verb tense. Misusing a present participle can result in a sentence fragment.

Example of a misused present participle:

  • “Running through the park every morning.” (Incorrect – misused present participle)

To fix this, add a subject and ensure the present participle is part of a complete verb phrase:

  • “He is running through the park every morning.” (Correct – “He” is the subject, and “is running” is the complete verb phrase)
  • “Running through the park every morning is his favorite way to start the day.” (Correct – “Running through the park every morning” is the subject, and “is his favorite way to start the day” is the predicate)

Split up overly long sentences 

Overly long sentences can be difficult for readers to follow and comprehend. They often contain multiple ideas or clauses, making it challenging to grasp the main point. Aim for an average sentence length of 15-25 words. If a sentence exceeds 30-40 words, consider revising it by removing redundancies and inflated phrases. If all words are essential, split the sentence into shorter ones to improve readability and comprehension.

Example 1:

“The new employee, who had just graduated from a prestigious university with a degree in marketing and had completed several internships at top-tier companies, was eager to make a positive impact on the firm’s sales strategies and contribute to the overall growth of the company.”

Split into shorter sentences:

“The new employee had just graduated from a prestigious university with a degree in marketing. She had also completed several internships at top-tier companies. She was eager to make a positive impact on the firm’s sales strategies and contribute to the overall growth of the company.”

Example 2:

“The committee members, after carefully reviewing all the proposals submitted by the various departments, discussing the pros and cons of each idea, and considering the available budget and resources, finally reached a consensus on the projects to prioritize for the upcoming fiscal year.”

Split into shorter sentences:

“The committee members carefully reviewed all the proposals submitted by the various departments. They discussed the pros and cons of each idea and considered the available budget and resources. Finally, they reached a consensus on the projects to prioritize for the upcoming fiscal year.”

Example 3:

“The old, dilapidated house at the end of the street, which had been abandoned for years and was rumored to be haunted by the ghost of its former owner, a reclusive elderly woman who had died under mysterious circumstances, was finally sold to a young couple who planned to renovate it and turn it into their dream home.”

Split into shorter sentences:

“The old, dilapidated house at the end of the street had been abandoned for years. It was rumored to be haunted by the ghost of its former owner, a reclusive elderly woman who had died under mysterious circumstances. Finally, the house was sold to a young couple. They planned to renovate it and turn it into their dream home.”

Link together overly short sentences 

While short sentences can be effective for emphasis or creating a specific tone, using too many in succession can make your writing seem choppy and disconnected. Linking overly short sentences together can improve the flow and coherence of your text, making it more engaging and easier to read.

Example 1:

“She walked into the room. She sat down on the couch. She turned on the TV. She flipped through the channels.”

Linked sentences: “She walked into the room and sat down on the couch. Turning on the TV, she flipped through the channels.”

Example 2:

“The sun was setting. The sky turned orange. Birds flew back to their nests. The breeze grew cooler.”

Linked sentences: “As the sun was setting, the sky turned orange, and birds flew back to their nests. The breeze grew cooler as evening approached.”

Example 3:

“He loved to paint. He spent hours in his studio. He created beautiful landscapes. His work was admired by many.”

Linked sentences: “He loved to paint and spent hours in his studio, creating beautiful landscapes that were admired by many.”

To link short sentences effectively, consider the following techniques:

  • Use conjunctions: Combine sentences using conjunctions like “and,” “but,” “or,” “so,” “yet,” “for,” or “nor.”
  • Use semicolons: Join closely related independent clauses with a semicolon to show a stronger connection between ideas.
  • Use subordinating conjunctions: Connect a dependent clause to an independent clause using subordinating conjunctions such as “because,” “although,” “if,” “when,” or “while.”
  • Use participles or participial phrases: Combine sentences using present participles (“-ing” form) or past participles (“-ed” form) to show actions or modify nouns. 

Fix sentence structure with a paraphrasing tool 

Paraphrasing tools can help you find alternative ways to express your ideas, which can be particularly useful when struggling with sentence structure. These tools suggest different word choices and sentence constructions, allowing you to see your writing from a fresh perspective. 

NOTE: Use these tools as a guide and do not rely on them entirely, as they may not always capture the intended meaning or tone of your writing.

When using a paraphrasing tool, consider the following tips:

  • Read through the suggested paraphrases and choose the one that best fits your intended meaning and the context of your writing.
  • Ensure the paraphrased version maintains the original idea and does not alter the meaning of your sentence.
  • Edit and refine the paraphrased sentence to ensure it flows well with the rest of your writing and matches your desired tone and style.
  • Don’t overuse paraphrasing tools, which may result in awkward or unnatural phrasing. Use them selectively and always proofread your work to maintain the quality and coherence of your writing.

Other sentence structure tips 

Here are some additional tips for improving sentence structure and creating more engaging, effective writing. 

  • Use varied sentence lengths and types (simple, compound, complex, and compound-complex) to maintain reader interest and engagement.  
  • Ensure that your sentences have a clear subject and predicate to convey your message effectively.  
  • Use active voice instead of passive voice whenever possible, as active voice tends to be more direct and engaging.  
  • Read your writing aloud to identify awkward or confusing sentence structures needing revision.  
  • Practice writing regularly and seek feedback from others to continually improve your sentence structure skills.