Run-On Sentences
Prepared by Professors
Paul Harris & Rita Perkins
The McGraw Hill Companies Inc. 1998
McGraw-Hill
1
© The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., 2000
There are Two Types of Run-On
Sentences
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.
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Comma Splices:
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.
© The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., 2000
How to Correct Run-Ons
◆ There are three
common methods of
correcting a run-on:
a capital letter.
– Use a period and
Note:
A fourth method of
plus
a joining
– Use a comma
correcting
a run-on
is to word (and,
but, for, or,
so, yet) to connect the
usenor,
subordination.
two complete thoughts.
– Use a semicolon to connect the two
complete thoughts:
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© The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., 2000
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.
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© The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., 2000
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.
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Adding a Coordinating Conjunction
One way to remember the seven
coordinating conjunctions is to put them in
this order:
For
But
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And
Michael plays the
trumpet well, so he
hopes to be selected
for the jazz band.
Or
Yet
“FANBOYS”
Nor
So
© The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., 2000
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
A semicolon
looks like a period above a
◆Kristin
well; she hopes to start
comma.
her
own band.
Also correct:
Kristin
plays
guitar
runonsthe
, the
◆ When it is used to correct
well; consequently,
semicolon can be used alone
or with a
she hopes to start
transitional word.
her own band.
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© The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., 2000
Learning to Identify and Correct
Comma Splices
Practice Review: Identify
each entry as correct or
incorrect.
1. The temperature dropped
below freezing last night.
We had to bring our plants
indoors.
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© The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., 2000
Learning to Identify and Correct
Comma Splices
Practice Review: Identify
each entry as correct or
incorrect.
Correct
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1. The temperature
dropped below freezing last
night. We had to bring our
plants indoors.
© The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., 2000
Learning to Identify and Correct
Comma Splices
Practice Review: Identify
each entry as correct or
incorrect.
2. The temperature
dropped below freezing last
night; we had to bring our
plants indoors.
McGraw-Hill
© The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., 2000
Learning to Identify and Correct
Comma Splices
Practice Review: Identify
each entry as correct or
incorrect.
Correct
McGraw-Hill
2. The temperature
dropped below freezing last
night; we had to bring our
plants indoors.
© The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., 2000
Learning to Identify and Correct
Comma Splices
Practice Review: Identify
each entry as correct or
incorrect.
3. The temperature
dropped below freezing last
night, so we had to bring
our plants indoors.
McGraw-Hill
© The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., 2000
Learning to Identify and Correct
Comma Splices
Practice Review: Identify
each entry as correct or
incorrect.
Correct
McGraw-Hill
3. The temperature
dropped below freezing last
night, so we had to bring
our plants indoors.
© The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., 2000
Learning to Identify and Correct
Comma Splices
Practice Review: Identify
each entry as correct or
incorrect.
4. The temperature
dropped below freezing last
night, we had to bring our
plants indoors.
McGraw-Hill
© The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., 2000
Learning to Identify and Correct
Comma Splices
Practice Review: Identify
each entry as correct or
incorrect.
Incorrect
McGraw-Hill
4. The temperature
dropped below freezing last
night, we had to bring our
plants indoors.
© The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., 2000
Learning to Identify and Correct
Comma Splices
Practice Review: Identify
each entry as correct or
incorrect.
5. Because the temperature
dropped below freezing last
night, we had to bring our
plants indoors.
McGraw-Hill
© The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., 2000
Learning to Identify and Correct
Comma Splices
Practice Review: Identify
each entry as correct or
incorrect.
Correct
McGraw-Hill
5. Because the temperature
dropped below freezing last
night, we had to bring our
plants indoors.
© The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., 2000
Learning to Identify and Correct
Comma Splices
Practice Review: Identify
each entry as correct or
incorrect.
6. If the temperature drops
below freezing tonight, we
must remember to bring
our plants indoors.
McGraw-Hill
© The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., 2000
Learning to Identify and Correct
Comma Splices
Practice Review: Identify
each entry as correct or
incorrect.
Correct
McGraw-Hill
6. If the temperature drops
below freezing tonight, we
must remember to bring
our plants indoors.
© The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., 2000
Learning to Identify and Correct
Comma Splices
Practice Review: Identify
each entry as correct or
incorrect.
7.The temperature dropped
below freezing last night,
therefore, we had to bring
our plants indoors.
McGraw-Hill
© The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., 2000
Learning to Identify and Correct
Comma Splices
Incorrect
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” isIdentify
not one of the
“Therefore
Practice
Review:
seven
coordinating
each
entry
as correct conjunctions,
or
so it cannot be used with a
incorrect.
comma between two
independent clauses.
See page 356 for a list
7.The temperature
dropped
of transitional
words..
below freezing last night,
therefore, we had to bring
our plants indoors.
© The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., 2000
Learning to Identify and Correct
Comma Splices
Practice Review: Identify
each entry as correct or
incorrect.
8.The temperature dropped
below freezing last night,
thus we had to bring our
plants indoors.
McGraw-Hill
© The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., 2000
Learning to Identify and Correct
Comma Splices
Practice Review: Identify
each entry as correct or
incorrect.
Incorrect
McGraw-Hill
8.The temperature dropped
below freezing last night,
thus we had to bring our
plants indoors.
© The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., 2000
Learning to Identify and Correct
Comma Splices
Practice Review: Identify
each entry as correct or
incorrect.
9.The temperature dropped
below freezing last night
we had to bring our plants
indoors.
McGraw-Hill
© The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., 2000
Learning to Identify and Correct
Comma Splices
Practice Review: Identify
each entry as correct or
incorrect.
It is a fused sentence.
Incorrect
McGraw-Hill
9.The temperature dropped
below freezing last night
we had to bring our plants
indoors.
© The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., 2000
Any Questions?
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© The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., 2000