Avoid Run-On Sentences in Your Business Writing

Avoid Run-On Sentences in Your Business Writing This statement contains an error. Find and correct it: The next few weeks will be busy. Both the website update and the app launch have deadlines in December.Huang is our most diligent employee, I would like him on my team. Run-on sentences and sentence fragments are becoming more and more common, and seem to be a tricky area for many people. I certainly have been guilty of all of these before, particularly when I am texting. While I think it is somewhat inconsequential to have a grammatical mistake in a quick text dashed off to a friend, these types of mistakes become problematic when they spill into more formal business contexts such as emails, letters, and memos. In fact, run-on sentence construction (also called fused sentences) is the #1 most common business writing grammar error we see in client writing. Fragmented sentences is the #2 error, and they are very related. Let's back up a step or two (we have to go back to middle school grammar class now) and look at the difference between Independent and Dependent Clauses. The difference between these two is the foundational reason that run-on sentences and sentence fragments are wrong. First of all, what is a clause? A clause is a group of words with a subject and a verb. There are two main types of clauses: Independent and Dependent. An Independent Clause can stand alone as a complete sentence. Ex. John is a highly intelligent business man. Ex. Suzette was recognized for her contributions. A Dependent Clause can't stand alone, and therefore it must be connected to an Independent Clause. A Dependent Clause usually happens when you add a dependent marker word. These words are often conjunctions or adverbs, and leave us with a question. Ex. Because John is a highly intelligent businessman, Ex. When Suzette was recognized for her contributions. You should notice that by adding the dependent marker word to these clauses, they become incomplete sentence fragments, and you are essentially left hanging; what happened when Suzette was recognized? What happened because John was a highly intelligent businessman? To fix this situation, you need to connect those Dependent Clauses to Independent Clauses. Ex. Because John is a highly intelligent businessman, his company is very profitable. Ex. When Suzette was recognized for her contributions, she was given a promotion and a corner office. Connecting a dependent clause to an independent clause helps us to avoid sentence fragments. But what about the more common run-on sentences? Run-on sentences occur when we connect two independent clauses without using proper punctuation. Ex. Huang is the most diligent employee, I would like him on my team. There are many ways to fix the sentence above: Huang is the most diligent employee; I would like him on my team. (You could also add a transition here if you would like: Huang is the most diligent employee; therefore, I would like him on my team.) Huang is the most diligent employee. I would like him on my team. (Like the sentence above, you could also add a transition here: Huang is the most diligent employee. As a result, I would like him on my team.) Huang is the most diligent employee, and I would like him on my team. Because Huang is the most diligent employee, I would like him on my team. Simple clear language is the key to good business writing, soit is typically best to simply split the run-on into two complete sentences, as shown in number 2: Huang is the most diligent employee. I would like him on my team. Run-on sentences and sentence fragments are easy mistakes to make, and are just as easy to fix. Start by asking yourself this question: Does this clause express a complete thought? If not, connect it to another clause that answers the unanswered question. If it does, make sure that it isn't connected to another complete thought with a comma (use a period or a semi-colon instead). This one question should make it easy for you to find the run-on sentences and sentence fragments in your business writing, and fix them on your own. If you want additional support in this area, Instructional Solutions offers business writing courses that include detailed, individualized instructor feedback on your business writing.

Famous Quotes About Elvis Presley

Famous Quotes About Elvis Presley Nobody refrained from voicing his or her opinions about Elvis Presley. Some of them were harsh in judgment; while other put him on a higher pedestal. Whichever way you see, Elvis Presley was a strong influence that people could not choose to ignore. Here is a collection of quotes about Elvis Presley made by the movers and shakers of society. These quotes give you an insight into the enigma that was Elvis Presley. Frank Sinatra His kind of music is deplorable, a rancid smelling aphrodisiac. It fosters almost totally negative and destructive reactions in young people. Rod Stewart Elvis was the king. No doubt about it. People like myself, Mick Jagger and all the others only followed in his footsteps. Mick Jagger He was a unique artist†¦ an original in an area of imitators. Hal Wallis (Producer) A Presley picture is the only sure thing in Hollywood. John Landau There is something magical about watching a man who has lost himself find his way back home. He sang with the kind of power people no longer expect from rock n roll singers. Greil Marcus It was the finest music of his life. If ever there was music that bleeds, this was it. Jackie Wilson A lot of people have accused Elvis of stealing the black mans music, when in fact almost every black solo entertainer copied his stage mannerisms from Elvis. Bruce Springsteen There have been a lot of tough guys. There have been pretenders. And there have been contenders. But there is only one king. Bob Dylan When I first heard Elvis voice I just knew that I wasnt going to work for anybody; and nobody was going to be my boss. Hearing him for the first time was like busting out of jail. Leonard Bernstein Elvis is the greatest cultural force in the twentieth century. He introduced the beat to everything, music, language, clothes, its a whole new social revolution†¦ the 60s comes from it. Frank Sinatra There have been many accolades uttered about Elvis talent and performances through the years, all of which I agree with wholeheartedly. I shall miss him dearly as a friend. He was a warm, considerate and generous man. President Jimmy Carter, on Elvis Death Elvis Presleys death deprives our country of a part of itself. He was unique, irreplaceable. More than twenty years ago, he burst upon the scene with an impact that was unprecedented and will probably never be equaled. His music and his personality, fusing the styles of white country and black rhythm and blues, permanently changed the face of American popular culture. His following was immense. And he was a symbol to people the world over of the vitality, rebelliousness and good humor of this country. Al Green Elvis had an influence on everybody with his musical approach. He broke the ice for all of us. Huey Lewis A lot has been written and said about why he was so great, but I think the best way to appreciate his greatness is just to go back and play some of the old records. Time has a way of being very unkind to old records, but Elvis keep getting better and better. Time Magazine Without preamble, the threepiece band cuts loose. In the spotlight, the lanky singer flails furious rhythms on his guitar, every now and then breaking a string. In a pivoting stance, his hips swing sensuously from side to side and his entire body takes on a frantic quiver, as if he had swallowed a jackhammer. John Lennon Before Elvis, there was nothing. Johnny Carson If life was fair, Elvis would be alive and all the impersonators would be dead. Eddie Condon (Cosmopolitan) It isnt enough to say that Elvis is kind to his parents, sends money home, and is the same unspoiled kid he was before all the commotion began. That still isnt a free ticket to behave like a sex maniac in public. Ed Sullivan I wanted to say to Elvis Presley and the country that this is a real decent, fine boy. Howard Thompson As the lad himself might say, cut my legs off and call me Shorty! Elvis Presley can act. Acting is his assignment in this shrewdly upholstered showcase, and he does it. Carl Perkins This boy had everything. He had the looks, the moves, the manager, and the talent. And he didnt look like Mr. Ed like a lot of the rest of us did. In the way he looked, way he talked, way he acted†¦ he really was different.