1. Jeff mowed the grass this morning, tonight he will water the flowers and bushes.

X
Three fixes:
1. Separate the two complete thoughts into separate sentences:
Jeff mowed the grass this morning. Tonight, he will water the flowers and bushes.

2. Separate the two complete thoughts with a semi-colon:

Jeff mowed the grass this morning; tonight, he will water the flowers and bushes.

3. Connect the two complete thoughts with a FANBOYS.

Jeff mowed the grass this morning, but tonight, he will water the flowers and
bushes.

These seven little words are the only words in English that you can use to connect two
complete thoughts.

For
And
Nor
But
Or
Yet
So

Note: A FANBOYS is almost always followed by a comma.

2. The storm passed quickly through the area last night, it caused a lot of damage. X
 3. The evidence presented in the report is sketchy, it is difficult to take it seriously. X

Sentences 5, 6, and 7 are comma splices connected with words that are not FANBOYS.

4. The argument sounds compelling and sophisticated, however the writer uses

unsubstantiated claims to prove his point. X

Be aware of these words that are not FANBOYS, but are mistakenly used to connect
two complete thoughts.
Heres a list of these non-connectors (note how many there are):

accordingly consequently however

additionally conversely in addition

after earlier In comparison

afterwards elsewhere in contrast

again equally in fact

almost eventually in like manner

also finally incidentally

anyway for example in short

as a result for instance in the meantime

before further indecently

besides furthermore indeed

certainly hence instead

comparatively henceforth just as

later now subsequently

likewise on the contrary that is

meanwhile on the other hand then

moreover otherwise thereafter

namely perhaps therefore

nevertheless rather thus

next similarly undoubtedly

nonetheless since uniquely

notably still until

Three fixes:
1. Separate the two complete thoughts into two sentences:

The argument sounds compelling and sophisticated. However, the writer uses
unsubstantiated claims to prove his point.

2. Separate the two complete thoughts with a semi-colon:

The argument sounds compelling and sophisticated; however, the writer uses
unsubstantiated claims to prove his point.

3. Connect the two complete thoughts with a FANBOYS:

The argument sounds compelling and sophisticated, but the writer uses
unsubstantiated claims to prove his point.
 5. The speech is full of logical fallacies, therefore it is hard to know which one to discuss

first. X

6. The essay contains too much information fortunately, it is well organized so that you can

skim the extra material quickly. X

Note: this sentence cannot be fixed by adding a comma in front of fortunately,

because fortunately is a non-connector.

Sentences 7 and 8 are fused sentences. Fused sentences contain more than one complete thought,
with nothing in between them.

7. I didn't think it would be necessary to take my umbrella the sun was shining when I left

home. X
Three fixes for fused sentences:

1. Separate the two complete thoughts into two sentences:

I didnt think it would be necessary to take my umbrella. The sun was shining when I left
home.

2. Separate the two complete thoughts with a semi-colon:

I didnt think it would be necessary to take my umbrella; the sun was shining when I left
home.
 3. Connect the two complete thoughts with a FANBOYS (Note that the wording
in this case has to be changed):
The sun was shining when I left home, so I didnt think it would be necessary to take my
umbrella.

4. Connect the two complete thoughts by making one dependent on the other by
using subordinating conjunctions:
I didnt think it would be necessary to take my umbrella, because the sun was shining
when I left home.

List of subordinating conjunctions:

after inasmuch whichever

although in order that when

as lest whenever

as if now that where

as long as once whereas

as much as provided that wherever

as soon as since whether

as though so that while

because than who

before that whom

even if though whose

even though unless whosever

how until whomever

if which why
 8. Most of my extra time is spent on school work its my top priority. X

Sentences 9 and 10 are run-on sentences. Run-on sentences connect several complete thoughts
with and between each, like hitches between rail cars. This type of sentence construction fails
to make logical connections between ideas.

9. The book is long and it is difficult to understand in places and the writer sometimes goes

off on tangents. X

Fixes:
1. Separate the complete thoughts into groups of no more than two.
The book is long and it is difficult to understand in places. The writer sometimes goes off
on tangents.
2. Use a semi-colon to break the complete thoughts into groups of no more than
two.
The book is long and difficult to understand in places; also, the writer sometimes goes off
on tangents.
3. Reorganize the sentence to form a list:
The book is long, difficult to understand in places, and full of extraneous information.

10. _____ My work hours have been cut back and I have car payments and my rent is going

up and gas is becoming more expensive. X