Task D: Sentences

Activity

Read the following incorrect sentences. Identify the type of error and possible remedy to correct the error, by selecting it in the pull-down menu.

Exercise 1

Incorrect: Although it is important to point out that burnout is not just a response to work overload.

SELECT type of error and possible remedy RUN-ON: Put a semicolon after 'important'. COMMA SPLICE: Put a comma after 'out'. FRAGMENT: Put a comma at the end and finish the sentence.

FRAGMENT: put a comma after 'overload' and finish the sentence.

Reasoning

This sentence fragment does not contain an independent clause because of the word "Although". Therefore, it does not contain a complete thought even though there is a subject and a verb. Watch out for sentence fragments beginning with: Because, When, While.

Exercise 1 corrected

Although it is important to point out that burnout is not just a response to work overload, it is acknowledged that work overload is one of the main offenders.

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Exercise 2

Incorrect: A study was conducted to examine burnout in nurses, another study examined possible remedies.

SELECT type of error and possible remedy RUN-ON: Put a colon after 'conducted'. COMMA SPLICE: Put the word 'and' after the comma. FRAGMENT: Put a comma after 'work' and finish the sentence.

COMMA SPLICE: Put the word 'and' after the comma.

Reasoning

When a comma connects two independent clauses, it must be accompanied by a conjunction, e.g. and, but, or, so, yet, nor, for. Otherwise, you have a comma splice.

Exercise 2 corrected

A study was conducted to examine burnout in nurses, and another study examined possible remedies.

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Exercise 3

Incorrect: Effective stress management programs in nursing have become critical with evidence that health care professionals.

SELECT type of error and possible remedy RUN-ON: Begin with 'Although' and put a comma after 'critical'. COMMA SPLICE: Put a comma after 'critical' followed by 'and'. FRAGMENT: Remove the full stop and finish the sentence.

FRAGMENT: remove the full stop and finish the sentence.

Reasoning

This is a sentence fragment because there is an incomplete thought: we do not know what the 'evidence' is.

Exercise 3 corrected

Effective stress management programs in nursing have become critical with evidence that health care professionals have higher sickness and absence rates than workers in other areas.

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Exercise 4

Incorrect: Think about practice placements make notes regarding what it is about them that can seem so stressful.

SELECT type of error and possible remedy RUN-ON: Put a fullstop after 'placements'. COMMA SPLICE: Put a comma after 'placements'. FRAGMENT: Insert a subject in the first clause.

RUN-ON: Put a fullstop after 'placements'.

Reasoning

This is a run-on because there are two independent clauses joined together without any punctuation. They can be made into two sentences by using a fullstop, followed by a capital letter.

Exercise 4 corrected

Think about practice placements. Make notes regarding what it is about them that can seem so stressful.
OR
Think about practice placements, and make notes regarding what it is about them that can seem so stressful.

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Exercise 5

Incorrect: It is impossible to eradicate chronic pain, it is not impossible to implement effective coping strategies.

SELECT type of error and possible remedy RUN-ON: Put the word 'because' after the comma. COMMA SPLICE: Replace the comma with a semicolon. FRAGMENT: Begin with 'Because'.

COMMA SPLICE: Replace the comma with a semicolon.

Reasoning

This is a comma splice because there are two independent clauses joined only by a comma. They could be joined by a semi-colon or a comma and conjunction.

Exercise 5 corrected

It is impossible to eradicate chronic pain; it is not impossible to implement effective coping strategies.
OR
It is impossible to eradicate chronic pain, but it is not impossible to implement effective coping strategies.

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Exercise 6

Incorrect: A great deal is known about stress in the health sector what seems to be lacking is the application of this knowledge into practice.

SELECT type of error and possible remedy RUN-ON: Begin with 'although' and put a comma after 'sector'. COMMA SPLICE: Put a comma after 'sector'. FRAGMENT: Finish the sentence.

RUN-ON: Put 'although' at the beginning of the sentence and a comma after 'sector'.

Reasoning

This is a run-on because two independent clauses are joined together without punctuation.

Exercise 6 corrected

Allthough a great deal is known about stress in the health sector, what seems to be lacking is the application of this knowledge into practice.
OR
A great deal is known about stress in the health sector, but what seems to be lacking is the application of this knowledge into practice.
OR
A great deal is known about stress in the health sector; what seems to be lacking is the application of this knowledge into practice.

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Exercise 7

Incorrect: We need to look at the different models of stress: physiological and psychological. Because both are significant.

SELECT type of error and possible remedy RUN-ON: Replace the colon with a semicolon. COMMA SPLICE: Put a comma after 'because'. FRAGMENT: Put a comma before 'because'.

FRAGMENT: Make the two sentences into one, and put a comma after 'psychological'.

Reasoning

Here is a sentence fragment beginning with the word 'Because'. It is an dependent clause and cannot stand alone; therefore, it must be joined to the previous sentence.

Exercise 7 corrected

We need to look at the different models of stress: physiological and psychological, because both are significant.

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Exercise 8

Incorrect: Seeing loved ones in pain can be extremely distressing therefore, it is important to consider the needs of relatives as well as the needs of the patients.

SELECT type of error and possible remedy RUN-ON: Put a semicolon after 'distressing'. COMMA SPLICE: Put a comma after 'distressing'. FRAGMENT: Put a full stop after 'therefore'.

RUN-ON: Put a semicolon after 'distressing'.

Reasoning

This is a run-on because there are two independent clauses joined together without appropriate punctuation.

Exercise 8 corrected

Seeing loved ones in pain can be extremely distressing; therefore, it is important to consider the needs of relatives as well as the needs of the patients.
OR
Seeing loved ones in pain can be extremely distressing. Therefore, it is important to consider the needs of relatives as well as the needs of the patients.