A Paragraph With Three Boundary Errors

In practice

This worked example is constructed for this course. The draft reads: "The town council voted to close the old pool. Because repairs would cost more than a new one. Residents protested at the next meeting, they brought a petition with two thousand signatures. The council agreed to delay the demolition it will hold a public hearing in the spring." Check each sentence in order. The first has a subject, council, and a verb, voted, and stands alone: correct. The second begins with because and has no independent clause: a dependent-clause fragment. Since it gives the reason for the closing, attach it to the first sentence: "The town council voted to close the old pool because repairs would cost more than a new one." The third has two independent clauses, residents protested and they brought, joined by a comma alone: a comma splice. Since the second clause adds detail to the first, a coordinating conjunction fits: "Residents protested at the next meeting, and they brought a petition." The fourth has two independent clauses, the council agreed and it will hold, with nothing between them: a run-on. The hearing is the reason for the delay, so subordinate one clause: "The council agreed to delay the demolition until it holds a public hearing in the spring." Read the revised paragraph aloud to confirm that each relationship now says what the writer meant.