Fragments:
* Incomplete thoughts: Fragments lack a subject or verb, or both, leaving the thought unfinished. This creates confusion for the reader, who is left wondering what the writer is trying to say.
* Choppy writing: Frequent fragments create a choppy and disjointed writing style, making it difficult to follow the thread of the narrative or argument.
* Informal tone: Fragments are often used in informal writing, like casual conversation or social media. In formal writing, they can sound unprofessional and detract from the overall quality.
Run-on Sentences:
* Lack of clarity: Run-on sentences combine multiple independent clauses without proper punctuation or conjunctions. This creates a jumbled mess that makes it difficult to understand the relationship between the different ideas.
* Overwhelming for the reader: Long, rambling sentences can be overwhelming for the reader, making it hard to grasp the main point.
* Difficult to read: The lack of clear breaks and punctuation in run-on sentences makes them difficult to read, even if the reader understands the content.
How to avoid fragments and run-on sentences:
* Check for a subject and verb: Ensure each sentence has a subject (who or what is doing the action) and a verb (the action itself).
* Look for independent clauses: Identify the main parts of your sentence that could stand alone as a complete thought.
* Use proper punctuation and conjunctions: Connect independent clauses with commas, semicolons, or conjunctions like "and," "but," or "so."
By avoiding fragments and run-on sentences, writers can create clear, concise, and engaging writing that effectively communicates their message to the reader.