Chapter Twenty-Five
Run-On Sentences
Prepared by Professors Rita
Perkins and Paul Harris
Camden County College
The Two Types of
Run-On Sentences
Comma Splices:
Fused Sentences:
They are fused or
joined together as if
they were only one
thought.
Rob exercises everyday he
Error
should be in good condition.
A comma is used to connect
or “splice” together the
two complete thoughts. A
comma alone is NOT
ENOUGH to connect two
complete sentences.
Rob exercises everyday, he
Error
should be in good condition.
How to Correct Run-Ons
•
There are three common methods of
correcting a run-on:
– Use a period and
a capital letter.
Note:
A fourth method of
– Use a comma
plus a joining word (and,
correcting a run-on is to
but, for, or,usenor,
so, yet) to connect the
subordination.
two complete thoughts.
– Use a semicolon to connect the two
complete thoughts:
Correcting Run-On Sentences
•
One way of correcting a run-on is to use
a period and a capital letter between the
two complete sentences. Use this method
especially if the thoughts are not closely
related.
• Kristin plays the guitar well she hopes to
start her own band.
• Revision: Kristin plays the guitar well. She
hopes to start her own band.
Correcting Run-On Sentences
•
Another way of correcting a run-on is to
use a comma plus a joining word to
connect the two complete thoughts.
There are seven joining words (also
called conjunctions).
• Kristin plays the guitar well, and she hopes
to start her own band.
Adding a Coordinating Conjunction
One way to remember the seven
coordinating conjunctions is to put them in
this order:
For
But
And
Michael plays the
trumpet well, so he
hopes to be selected
for the jazz band.
Or
Yet
“FANBOYS”
Nor
So
Correcting Run-On Sentences
•
A third method of correcting a run-on is
to use a semicolon to mark the break
between two sentences.
plays the guitar
• Kristin
A semicolon
looks like a period above a
well; she hopes to start
comma.
her
own band.
Also correct:
Kristin
plays thethe
guitar
• When it is used to correct
run-ons,
well; consequently,
semicolon can be used alone
or with a
she hopes to start
transitional word.
her own band.
Learning to Identify and Correct
Comma Splices
Practice Review: Identify each
entry as correct or incorrect.
(Click to see the answer.)
1. The temperature dropped
below freezing last night.
We had to bring our plants
indoors.
Learning to Identify and Correct
Comma Splices
Practice Review: Identify
each entry as correct or
incorrect.
Correct
1. The temperature
dropped below freezing last
night. We had to bring our
plants indoors.
Learning to Identify and Correct
Comma Splices
Practice Review: Identify
each entry as correct or
incorrect.
Correct
2. The temperature
dropped below freezing last
night; we had to bring our
plants indoors.
Learning to Identify and Correct
Comma Splices
Practice Review: Identify
each entry as correct or
incorrect.
Correct
3. The temperature
dropped below freezing last
night, so we had to bring
our plants indoors.
Learning to Identify and Correct
Comma Splices
Practice Review: Identify
each entry as correct or
incorrect.
Incorrect
4. The temperature
dropped below freezing last
night, we had to bring our
plants indoors.
Learning to Identify and Correct
Comma Splices
Practice Review: Identify
each entry as correct or
incorrect.
Correct
5. Because the temperature
dropped below freezing last
night, we had to bring our
plants indoors.
Learning to Identify and Correct
Comma Splices
Practice Review: Identify
each entry as correct or
incorrect.
Correct
6. If the temperature drops
below freezing tonight, we
must remember to bring
our plants indoors.
Learning to Identify and Correct
Comma Splices
Incorrect
Practice Review: Identify
each entry as correct or
incorrect.
“Therefore” is not one of the
seven coordinating conjunctions,
so it cannot be used with a
comma between two
7.The temperature
independentdropped
clauses.
below freezing
See yourlast
textnight,
for a list
therefore,
we had to words..
bring
of transitional
our plants indoors.
Learning to Identify and Correct
Comma Splices
Practice Review: Identify
each entry as correct or
incorrect.
Incorrect
8.The temperature dropped
below freezing last night,
thus we had to bring our
plants indoors.
Learning to Identify and Correct
Comma Splices
Practice Review: Identify
each entry as correct or
incorrect.
It is a fused sentence.
Incorrect
9.The temperature dropped
below freezing last night
we had to bring our plants
indoors.