Run-Ons and Comma Splices (G#7)
TONIGHT’S HOMEWORK
1. Complete revision of classification essay
(submit second draft on Canvas and to a
tutor and bring TWO printouts),
2. begin Grammar #7 (run-ons and comma
splices), due Thursday, March 23, on
Canvas, AND
3. review LBCH pp. 350-365 and 375-406 (or
LR pp. 571-584)
RUN-ONS
and
COMMA
SPLICES
LBCH, pp. 269-273
Remember the Difference
Between Clauses and Phrases
• A CLAUSE is a group of words that
contains a subject and its verb.
the boy ran
people talk
it is
if you go
• A PHRASE is a group of words that does
NOT contain a subject and its verb.
the boy next door people with loud voices
being hungry
for a while
Clauses and Phrases
The important things to remember:
• A clause has a subject and complete verb that
go together; a phrase doesn’t.
• An “-ing” verb cannot be the only verb in a sentence. With no helping verb, it makes a phrase.
• A phrase can never be a sentence by itself.
• Clauses must be connected in very specific
ways whereas phrases can be added more
freely. Compound sentences use a comma and
FANBOYS or a semicolon; complex sentences
use a dependent word or a relative pronoun.
Run-ons: Fused Sentences
Run-ons
fused sentence = two independent
clauses (S+V groups) joined
without any separation
comma splice = two independent
clauses (S+V groups) joined with
just a comma
Munchkin had a big problem she took
a few minutes to think about it.
p. 277
1
Run-Ons and Comma Splices (G#7)
Run-ons: Fused Sentences
Munchkin had a big problem.She
problem she took
a few minutes to think about it.
This one sentence actually
contains two complete
sentences. However, in my rush
to get that idea out, I made it
into one incorrect sentence.
Run-ons: Comma Splices
Do NOT simply add a comma
between the two sentences, or you
create a comma splice.
Munchkin had a big problem, she
took a few minutes to think about it.
p. 277
Ways to correct a run-on (fused
sentence) or comma splice:
NOW, YOU TRY IT:
The penguins were excited they
planned a trip to Madagascar.
1. Make it into two separate
sentences.
STEP 1: Get rid of extra stuff like
prepositional phrases and interrupters.
Munchkin had a big problem. She
took a few minutes to think about it.
The penguins were excited they
planned a trip to Madagascar.
p. 278
NOW, YOU TRY IT:
NOW, YOU TRY IT:
The penguins were excited they
planned a trip to Madagascar.
The penguins were excited they
planned a trip to Madagascar.
STEP 2: Find the subject(s) and verb(s).
The penguins were excited they
planned a trip to Madagascar.
STEP 3: Determine how the clauses are joined
• no punctuation at all = run-on (RO)
• comma where a period could go =
comma splice (CS)
2
Run-Ons and Comma Splices (G#7)
NOW, YOU TRY IT:
RUN-ON: The penguins were excited
they planned a trip to Madagascar.
Ways to correct a run-on (fused
sentence) or comma splice:
2a. Use a semicolon alone…
Munchkin had a big problem; she took a
few minutes to think about it.
FIXED: The penguins were excited.
They planned a trip to Madagascar.
p. 278
NOW, YOU TRY IT WITH A SEMICOLON:
RUN-ON: The penguins were excited
they planned a trip to Madagascar.
Ways to correct a run-on (fused
sentence) or comma splice:
2b. Use a semicolon with a transitional expression and a comma.
Munchkin had a big problem; therefore, she
took a few minutes to think about it.
FIXED: The penguins were excited;
they planned a trip to Madagascar.
TRANSITIONAL EXPRESSION
When a
(also called an adverbial conjunction or a conjunctive adverb)
separates two clauses, use a SEMICOLON where the period
would go and a COMMA after the transitional expression.
p. 278
COMMON TRANSITIONAL EXPRESSIONS
also
even so
for example
in addition
in fact
moreover
nonetheless
similarly
then* (no comma)
besides
finally
furthermore
in conclusion
likewise
nevertheless
of course
still
thus
clearly
first (second, third)
however
indeed
meanwhile
next
otherwise
therefore
ultimately
NOW, YOU TRY IT WITH A SEMI, A
TRANSITION, AND A COMMA:
RUN-ON: The penguins were excited
they planned a trip to Madagascar.
FIXED:
FIXED:
The The
penguins
penguins
werewere
excited;
meanwhile,
excited;they
as aplanned
result, they
a trip to
planned Madagascar.
a trip to Madagascar.
3
Run-Ons and Comma Splices (G#7)
Ways to correct a run-on (fused
sentence) or comma splice:
“FANBOYS” words (p. 192):
FOR
AND
NOR
BUT
OR
YET
SO
3. Use a comma and a coordinating conjunction (FANBOYS).
Munchkin had a big problem, so she
took a few minutes to think about it.
p. 278
NOW, YOU TRY IT WITH A COMMA
AND A FANBOYS:
Ways to correct a run-on (fused
sentence) or comma splice:
RUN-ON: The penguins were excited
they planned a trip to Madagascar.
4. Use a subordinating conjunction (dependent word).
Although Munchkin had a big problem,
FIXED:
The penguins were excited, so they
planned a trip to Madagascar.
she took a few minutes to think about it.
Munchkin had a big problem until she
took a few minutes to think about it.
p. 279
Notice the comma difference:
COMMON DEPENDENT WORDS
Although Munchkin had a big problem,
she took a few minutes to think about it.
after*
as if
before*
although
as though
even
as
because
even though
if
once
though
like*
since
unless
now that
so that
until
what
whenever
whereas
whatever
where
whether
when
wherever
while
Munchkin had a big problem until she
took a few minutes to think about it.
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.
4
Run-Ons and Comma Splices (G#7)
NOW, YOU TRY IT WITH A
DEPENDENT WORD IN THE MIDDLE:
NOW, YOU TRY IT WITH A DEPENDENT WORD AT THE BEGINNING
AND A COMMA IN THE MIDDLE:
RUN-ON: The penguins were excited
they planned a trip to Madagascar.
RUN-ON: The penguins were excited
they planned a trip to Madagascar.
FIXED:
The penguins were excited because
they planned a trip to Madagascar.
FIXED:
Whenever the penguins were excited,
they planned a trip to Madagascar.
Want to get fancy? Try it with
a relative pronoun clause:
SENTENCE ERRORS
RUN-ON:
penguins
were excited
RUN-ON:The
Skipper
the Penguin
was
Fragments happen when a word group is
missing a subject, a verb, and/or a
complete thought.
they planned
a trip
to Madagascar.
excited
he planned
a trip
to Madagascar.
FIXED:
FIXED:Skipper
The penguins
the Penguin,
that were
who
was
excited
excited,
planned
planned
a trip
a trip
to to
Madagascar.
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)
(one type of frag.) (dep. word)
Fragment = Because + S + V.
Fused sentence = S + V + S + V.
Comma splice = S + V , S + V.
Fused sentences (run-ons) happen when
two clauses are joined incorrectly
with no punctuation at all.
Comma splices happen when
two independent clauses are joined
incorrectly with just a comma.
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)
5