Run-on Sentences

FUSED SENTENCES AND COMMA SPLICES

Notes for the Following Example Sentences

 Corrections are marked in red.

 I have underlined each subject/predicate pair to help you locate

them.

 Remember that subjects and predicates never appear in a

prepositional phrase.
What is a Run-On Sentence?

Two or more independent

clauses that have not been
joined correctly and run
together without the
proper punctuation
 Two Types of Run-on Sentences

Fused Sentence Comma Splice

two or more complete two or more complete
sentences joined sentences joined by
together with no just a comma
punctuation

 Example:  Example:
 Original: We went to  Original: Sally loves
get ice cream I got a sports, she is a big fan
chocolate sundae. of basketball.
 Rule #1:

To join two complete

sentences together, you
must use more than a
comma.
 Correcting Run-on Sentences

Run-on sentences can be corrected by:

1) adding a comma with a coordinating conjunction*

2) adding a semi-colon between the clauses
3) adding a period to create separate sentences
4) adding a subordinating conjunction**
5) restructuring the sentence
 *Coordinating Conjunctions

Fo r And N or
FANBOYS
Bu t Or So
Y et
 Using Coordinating Conjunctions

Create a concise and complex sentence by adding

a comma with one of the seven coordinating
conjunctions: and, but, or, for, nor, so, yet.

 Example:
 Original: You have been pre-approved for auto financing, you
must contact us today!

 Revised: You have been pre-approved for auto financing, but

you must contact us today!
 **Subordinating Conjunctions

After As If Although
Unless Because Until
Though When
Once As long as Before
Where Even if
Since Now that While
 Using Subordinating Conjunctions

If one of the clauses seems to be less important,

turn it into a subordinate clause or phrase by using
a subordinating conjunction.

 Example:
 Original: Many scholars dismiss the abominable snowman of the
Himalayas as a myth, others claim it may be a kind of ape.

 Revised: Although many scholars dismiss the abominable

snowman of the Himalayas as a myth, others claim it may be a
kind of ape.
 Correcting Fused Sentences

Fused Sentence - no punctuation

 Example:
 Original: We went to get ice cream I got a chocolate sundae.

 Revised: We went to get ice cream, and I got a chocolate sundae.

 Revised: We went to get ice cream; I got a chocolate sundae.
 Revised: We went to get ice cream. I got a chocolate sundae.
 Revised: When we went to get ice cream, I got a chocolate
sundae.
 Revised: We went to the ice cream parlor to get a chocolate
sundae.
 Correcting Comma Splices

Comma splice - just a comma

 Example:
 Original: Sally loves sports, she is a big fan of basketball.

 Revised: Sally loves sports, but she is a big fan of basketball.

 Revised: Sally loves sports; she is a big fan of basketball.
 Revised: Sally loves sports. She is a big fan of basketball.
 Revised: While Sally loves sports, she is a big fan of basketball.
 Revised: Sally loves sports, especially basketball.
 How to Punctuate a Run-on

A semicolon is required between independent

clauses that have been linked with a mid-sentence
transition (such as: however, therefore, moreover,
in fact, or for example)

 Ex: Bill worked late into the evening; therefore, he

missed his daughter’s recital.
 How to Punctuate a Run-on

If the second clause summarizes or explains the

clause preceding it, a colon or a dash would be an
acceptable method of revision.

 Ex: My mother found the perfect recipe for the leftovers

in our refrigerator – her famous chicken divan is one of
our favorites.
 How to Punctuate a Run-on

In cases where the first clause precedes a

quotation, a colon can be used.

 Ex: Benjamin Franklin warned the nation about wasteful

spending: “A penny saved is a penny earned.”
 How to Identify a Run-on

Does the sentence contain two pairs of subjects and predicates?

YES NO

Are the Are the Is one subject/

clauses joined clauses joined predicate pair
with a comma with a inside a
Oops…this
and a semicolon, prepositional is a run-on
coordinating colon, or or subordinate sentence.
conjunction? dash? phrase? Revise!

YES NO YES NO YES NO

Good work! Not a run-on sentence, no revision necessary.

 Additional Exercises

 “Repairing Run-on Sentences” at Capital Community College:

http
://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/GRAMMAR/quizzes/runons_quiz.htm