Language Awareness

Sentence problems:
run-ons and comma splice
Supervised by: DR. KARIM BENSOUKAS prepared by:
Abdelmoula EL KHDAR
Khalid Ait Manosour
Nabil HAMMOUALLAL
Abdelilah LENDANI
Mohamed OUKAAI
 Objectives:

 Identify run-on sentences and comma splice

 Learn how to correct run-on sentences and comma

splice using different techniques
 A run-on sentence?

Run-on: The bank was closed yesterday was a legal holiday.

Correction: The bank was closed. Yesterday was a legal holiday.

A run-on sentence:
is two (or more) independent clauses written together
without any punctuation between them.
 There are four ways to correct run-ons

Write the two independent clauses as two separate sentences

1
using a period.

Run-on: Heart disease is a big problem it kills many people.

Correction: Heart disease is a big problem. It kills many people.

2 If the two independent clauses are related, use a
semicolon to separate them.

Run-on: Jena loves tea Joe loves coffee.

Correction: Jena loves tea; Joe loves coffee.

3 Use a comma and any one of the following connecting
words: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, and so.

Run-on: My friends ate pizza I ate spaghetti.

Correction: My friends ate pizza, but I ate spaghetti.

 Use a semicolon and one of the following conjunctive
4
adverbs: therefore, thus, also, furthermore, however,
consequently, and nevertheless.

Run-on: We have not yet won we shall keep trying.

Correction: We have not yet won; however, we shall keep trying.

 Comma splice?
Comma splice occurs when two independent clauses arejoined incorrectly
by a comma.

Comma splice We have not yet won, we shall keep trying.

Independent clause Independent clause
splice
comm
Fixing

Complex sentence Although we have not yet won, we shall keep trying.
Dependent clause Independent clause

Two simple sentences

We have not yet won. However, we shall keep trying.
A.Decide whether the following sentences are correct sentences or run-ons.
 
1. When my family moved to Springfield, we lived in an old mansion.
……………………………………………………………………
Correct sentence
2. The exhausted boxer fell for the fifth time in the next round the judges stopped the fight.
……………………………………………………………………
Run-on sentence
3. After a week the leader called off the search, the rescue team could find no traces of the survivors.
…………………………………………………………………
Correct sentence
4. Call me old-fashioned, but I like handwritten letters.
…………………………………………………………………… Correct sentence

5. The witness is biased, so he can’t be trusted.

Correct sentence
……………………………………………………………………

6. She remained silent she was very sad.

…………………………………………………………………… Run-on sentence
B. Correct the following run-ons using two different ways.
1. Dina’s decision to diet was strong her will power was weak.
Dina’s decision to diet was strong, but her will power was weak.
Dina’s decision to diet was strong; however, her will power was weak.
2. Europeans shake hands when they meet the Japanese bow.
Europeans shake hands when they meet ; the Japanese bow.
Europeans shake hands when they meet , and the Japanese bow.

3. Jack didn’t study for the test, he failed.

Jack didn’t study for the test, so he failed.
Because Jack didn’t study for the test, he failed.

4. Living in a city is tiring it can often be unhealthy.

Living in a city is tiring, and it can often be unhealthy.

Living in a city is tiring; it can often be unhealthy.

5. It is a dangerous job the pay is extremely good.

Although it is a dangerous job, the pay is extremely good.
It is a dangerous job. Nevertheless, the pay is extremely good.