ABOUT CONNECTING AND COMBINING COMPLETE THOUGHTS
MRS. DARDEN-OBI
WHAT ARE THE INGREDIENTS FOR STRONG ESSAYS?
*Remember that strong essays are made of strong paragraphs, and strong paragraphs are made up of
strong sentences. SO, the best way to make sure that your writing is strong and tight is to look at every
single sentence, and make sure that each one is really good. That means you have to understand a
little bit about mechanics and grammar.
What are Mechanics and Grammar? Using correct mechanics and grammar means
that your sentences should contain correct spelling, correct punctuation, and
correct words.
ARE THERE ANY TIPS FOR CREATING STRONG SENTENCES?
*One of the most common problems that students have with mechanics is combining complete
sentences correctly in the context of one sentence. Another term for a complete sentence is a
complete thought.
What is a complete thought? It is a group of words that
o Contain a subject and a verb
o Contain a capital letter and an end mark
o Express “Who” (the subject) “Did What” (the verb)
How can I tell if a sentence is a complete thought?
o Remember that spoken language was created before written language.
Punctuation is designed to mimic the way your voice sounds when you
speak.
o Therefore, READ YOUR SENTENCES ALOUD, AND LISTEN TO YOUR VOICE.
o Notice that your voice naturally comes down at the ends of complete
thoughts.
o Notice that your voice naturally pauses at the ends of complete thoughts
o When you hear your voice come down or you hear a natural pause, look at
your sentence, and decide if it requires punctuation
MY PROFESSOR SAYS I CREATE RUN-ON SENTENCES. WHAT’S UP WITH THAT?
*When you use two or more complete thoughts in one sentence without using the proper punctuation,
you create a run-on sentence.
o Isn’t a run-on sentence a really long sentence that goes on and on and on?
o No. Actually, a sentence can be two pages long and still not be a run-on, if
it’s punctuated correctly.
o A run-on sentence contains two or more complete thoughts in one sentence,
but it doesn’t contain the correct punctuation.
TIPS ON CONNECTING AND COMBINING
Mature, sophisticated writers show their skills by avoiding run-on sentences. Below are some
tools you can use to correctly combine complete thoughts and avoid run-on sentences.
1. COMBINING TIP #1- USE A COMMA AND A CONJUNCTION TO COMBINE
COMPLETE THOUGHTS. CONJUNCTIONS ARE ALSO CALLED “CONNECTING
WORDS”
Here are Some Examples of Connecting Words-“coordinating conjunctions”:
and, but, for, nor, so
Ex. I am big, but I am not tall. The class was cancelled, and I went home.
2. COMBINING TIP #2- USE A SEMI-COLON TO COMBINE TWO COMPLETE
THOUGHTS
A Semi-Colon looks like a period over a comma ; it is used instead of a period at the
end of one complete thought to signal the beginning of another complete thought
Ex. I am big; I am not tall. Class was cancelled; I went home.
WHAT ABOUT SUBORDINATING? MY PROFESSOR MENTIONED
SUBORDINATION.
*You can also correct run-on sentences by changing one of the complete thoughts in your
sentence into a dependent thought
WHAT YOU TALKIN’ BOUT, WILLIS? What’s a dependent thought?
A dependent thought is one that requires a complete thought, or more information,
in order to make sense.
You can use SUBORDINATE WORDS to combine two complete ideas in one sentence
3. COMBINING TIP #3- USE SUBORDINATE WORDS TO COMBINE TWO
COMPLETE IDEAS IN ONE SENTENCE
Here are some examples of Subordinate Words- They are also called “subordinating
conjunctions”:
after, although, as, as if, as long as, because, before, even though, if, once, since, though,
unless, until, when
When used as part of an intro clause at the start of a sentence, these words should be
followed by a comma and a complete thought
Ex. As long as you live here, you will follow my rules. Because I am the father, I
make the rules.
When used in the middle of a sentence to link complete ideas, these words don’t
require a comma
Ex. I make the rules because I am the father. You will follow my rules as long as you
live here.