Run-ons and Comma Splices (Grammar
#7) and More Poetry
TONIGHT’S HOMEWORK:
(1) Complete two more (total ten) source
cards and ten more (total 60) note cards
for RP by end of class Thursday,
(2) begin Grammar #7 handout (run-ons
and comma splices), due March 22, AND
(3) schedule an appointment on Canvas for
our second RP conference
CONFERENCE #2 (MANDATORY)
BE SURE YOU HAVE SIGNED UP
FOR A TIME ON CANVAS!
Class will not meet Thursday, March 24,
because of conferences. Bring ALL your RP
materials—including your outline and first
draft!—and your previous essays with my
comments if your current overall grade in
the class is a C or lower.
Run-ons
RUN-ONS
(fused sentences)
and COMMA
SPLICES
Run-ons
Here is an example of a run-on:
Romanticism is my favorite
literary period it focuses on
nature and emotions.
This one sentence actually
contains two complete
sentences. However, in the
rush to get that idea out,
I made it into one incorrect sentence.
(also called fused sentences)
occur when you put two
complete clauses (S+V
groups) in one sentence
without any separation.
There are many ways to correct
this run-on.
1. You could make it into two
separate sentences:
Romanticism is my favorite
literary period. It focuses on
nature and emotions.
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Run-ons and Comma Splices (Grammar
#7) and More Poetry
There are many ways to correct
this run-on.
There are many ways to correct
this run-on.
2a. You could use just a semicolon:
2b. You could use a semicolon
with a transitional expression
and a comma:
Romanticism is my favorite literary
period; it focuses on nature and
emotions.
(This is an example of a compound sentence [coordination]
because the two clauses are equally important.)
TRANSITIONAL EXPRESSIONS
Romanticism is my favorite literary
period; in addition, it focuses on
nature and emotions.
(This is an example of a compound sentence [coordination]
because the two clauses are equally important.)
There are many ways to correct
this run-on.
(also called adverbial conjunctions or conjunctive adverbs)
Here are just a few common ones:
; therefore,
; however,
; nevertheless,
; moreover,
; also,
; in addition,
; likewise,
; furthermore,
; meanwhile,
; thus,
; still,
; in conclusion,
; hence,
; on the other hand,
; first,
; next,
; then (no comma)
“FANBOYS” words
(coordinating conjunctions):
FOR
AND
NOR
BUT
OR
YET
SO
Use a comma before a FANBOYS only to join
two independent clauses.
3. You could use a comma and a
coordinating conjunction
(FANBOYS):
Romanticism is my favorite literary
period, for it focuses on nature and
emotions.
(This is an example of a compound sentence [coordination]
because the two clauses are equally important.)
Comma splices
You CANNOT simply add a comma
between the two sentences, or you'll
end up with a "comma splice." Here
is an example of a comma splice:
Romanticism is my favorite
literary period, it focuses on
nature and emotions.
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Run-ons and Comma Splices (Grammar
#7) and More Poetry
Comma splices
REVIEW: SENTENCE ERRORS
You can fix a comma splice the
same way you fix a run-on:
Fragments happen when a word group is
missing a subject, a verb, and/or a
complete thought.
1. A period (two sentences)
2. Just a semicolon
3. A comma and a FANBOYS
Fused sentences (run-ons) happen when
two clauses are joined incorrectly
with no punctuation at all.
(and other ways we will discuss later)
Comma splices happen when
two clauses are joined incorrectly
with just a comma.
Complete sentence =
S + V + complete thought.
Examples = S + V. S + V.
(2 sentences)
= S + V ; S + V.
= S + V , and S + V.
(semicolon)
(comma + FANBOYS)
Fragment = Because + S + V.
Correcting a run-on or comma
splice with SUBORDINATION:
4. Use a subordinating conjunction (dependent word).
Romanticism is my favorite
literary period because it focuses on
nature and emotions.
(dep. word)
Run-on (fused sent.) = S + V + S + V.
Comma splice = S + V , S + V.
Notice the comma difference:
Because it focuses on nature and emotions,
Romanticism is my favorite literary period.
Romanticism is my favorite literary period
because it focuses on nature and emotions.
When the subordinator comes at the
beginning, it needs a comma before the
next clause. When the subordinator comes
in the middle, it gets no comma.
Because it focuses on nature
and emotions, Romanticism is my
favorite literary period.
COMMON DEPENDENT WORDS
(subordinating conjunctions)
after*
although
as
as if
as though
because
before*
even
even though
if
once
though
like*
since
unless
now that
so that
until
what
whenever
whereas
whatever
where
whether
when
wherever
while
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Run-ons and Comma Splices (Grammar
#7) and More Poetry
Relative pronouns
(who, whom, that, which)
are also subordinators,
but the punctuation is different.
We will discuss them April 12.
Romanticism, which focuses on
nature and emotions, is my favorite
literary period.
Romanticism is a literary period that
focuses on nature and emotions.
FOLLOW THESE STEPS:
1. Get rid of prepositional phrases and
interrupters.
2. Find the subject(s) and the verb(s). The
verb is the action (unless it is a linking verb); the subject
is the one doing the action.
3. If you have only one clause, it could be a
complete sentence (if it is an independent
clause) or a fragment (if it is dependent).
4. If you have two or more clauses, look at
how they are joined (semi, comma + FANBOYS,
dependent word, relative pronoun)
Let’s try analyzing some other poems:
GRAMMAR #7 HANDOUT
(50 points)
is due Tuesday, March 22. It is
NOT a MyHCC / Canvas
exercise, but the handout is
available there if you need it.
1. Margaret Atwood’s “You fit into me” (p. 228; consider tone, diction,
repetition, imagery, and irony)
2. William Hathaway’s “Oh, Oh” (handout; consider tone, diction,
imagery, and irony)
3. Randall Jarrell’s “The Death of the Ball Turret Gunner” (p. 219;
consider metaphor, diction, connotation, and ironic tone)
4. Gwendolyn Brooks’ “We Real Cool” (p. 236; consider diction, irony,
rhyme, and tone)
5. Edwin Arlington Robinson’s “Richard Cory” (p. 216; consider irony,
rhyme, rhythm, meter)
6. Katharyn Howd Machan’s “Hazel Tells LaVerne” (handout; consider
diction, irony, and allusion)
7. William Carlos Williams’ “This Is Just to Say” (p. 223; consider
image, diction, rhythm)
8. e.e. cummings’ “she being Brand” (handout; consider metaphor,
imagery, diction, syntax, rhythm, and the odd capitalization, line
breaks, and spacing)
Let’s try some other poems:
“You Fit into Me” by Margaret Atwood (p. 226)
William Hathaway’s “Oh, Oh”
(handout; consider tone, diction, imagery, and irony)
you fit into me
like a hook into an eye
a fish hook
an open eye
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Run-ons and Comma Splices (Grammar
#7) and More Poetry
Let’s try some other poems:
Let’s try some other poems:
Gwendolyn Brooks’ “We Real Cool”
Randall Jarrell’s “The Death
of the Ball Turret Gunner”
(p. 219; consider metaphor,
diction, connotation, and
ironic tone)
(p. 236; consider diction, irony, rhyme, and tone)
Let’s try some other poems:
Edwin Arlington
Let’s try some other poems:
Katharyn Howd Machan’s
Robinson’s
“Hazel Tells LaVerne”
“Richard Cory”
(handout; consider
diction, irony, and
(p. 216; consider
allusion)
irony, rhyme,
rhythm, meter)
Let’s try some other poems:
William Carlos
Williams’ “This Is
Just to Say”
(p. 223;
consider
image,
diction,
rhythm)
Let’s try some other poems:
e.e. cummings’
“she being Brand”
(handout; consider metaphor, imagery, diction, syntax,
rhythm, and the odd capitalization, line breaks, and spacing)
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