Session 02  ·  Student Handout  ·  Boundaries · Standard English Conventions

Sentence Boundaries — Run-ons, Splices & Fragments

Three boundary errors, one cause: two independent clauses joined illegally — or one clause left incomplete. Learn the four legal ways to join two ICs and you can fix every one of them on sight.

Boundaries Phase Boundaries Session 02 of 10
01 The Four Legal Ways to Join Two ICs
Memorise these four — nothing else legally joins two ICs
1 · Period. IC. IC.   2 · Semicolon; IC; IC.   3 · Comma + FANBOYS (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so): IC, and IC.   4 · Make one a DC with a subordinator (because, although, when…): DC, IC  /  IC DC.
02 The Three Boundary Errors
Run-on (fused)

× Two ICs jammed together with nothing: It rained the match was cancelled. Fix with any of the four joiners.

Comma splice (the most-tested error)

× Two ICs joined by a comma alone: It rained, the match was cancelled. A comma is not strong enough.

Fragment

× A piece missing a subject or main verb, or a stranded DC: Because it rained. Attach it to an IC.

Ready to practice?

14 questions for this session — 4 guided (label the structure first), 6 on the clock, and 4 in home practice. Every timed score feeds your sub-skill Error Log.

Open Session 02 Exercises →