Basic Terms

Sentence Structure

Basic Terms

• Clause—subject plus verb and everything else that’s necessary (that is, the subject and the predicate). Every complete sentence has an independent clause.

• Phrase—a noun and its modifiers, a preposition and its objects, etc. Not a complete sentence.

Proofreader’s Terms• Run-on • Fused sentences • Comma splice (or

fault)• Correct by punctuating

or revising

• The company is doing well, however, we need to plan for future growth.

• Two or more sentences run together, needing appropriate end punctuation (such as a period or semicolon)

• The company is doing well. However, we need to plan for future growth.

Proofreader’s Terms• Frag or fragment,

incomplete sentence• Correct by adding

something.

• Standing by his bicycle, holding his ice cream.

• Because we arrived too late to get into the theatre.

• Sentence is missing something.

• Standing by his bicycle, holding his ice cream, the boy looked very happy.

• Because we arrived too late to get into the theatre, we went home.