Rein in those Runaway Sentences! Comma Splices and Fused Sentences Presented by Carol Dillon and Lynn Ramert

Punctuation is a tool we use to communicate clearly. No punctuation (green light) = go No punctuation (green light) = go Comma (yellow light) = slow down Comma (yellow light) = slow down Semicolon (flashing red light) = stop and then go Semicolon (flashing red light) = stop and then go Period (red light) = complete stop Period (red light) = complete stop

Use punctuation to make the following letter make sense. dear John I want a man who knows what love is all about you are generous kind thoughtful people who are not like you admit to being useless and inferior you have ruined me for other men I yearn for you I have no feelings whatsoever when we’re apart I can be forever happy will you let me be yours Gloria Eats, Shoots and Leaves, Truss

Here are two ways to punctuate the letter, each with a distinct meaning: Dear John: I want a man who knows what love is all about. You are generous, kind, thoughtful. People who are not like you admit to being useless and inferior. You have ruined me for other men. I yearn for you. I have no feelings whatsoever when we’re apart. I can be forever happy—will you let me be yours? Gloria Dear John: I want a man who knows what love is all about. You are generous, kind, thoughtful. People who are not like you admit to being useless and inferior. You have ruined me for other men. I yearn for you. I have no feelings whatsoever when we’re apart. I can be forever happy—will you let me be yours? Gloria Dear John: I want a man who knows what love is. All about you are generous, kind, thoughtful people, who are not like you. Admit to being useless and inferior. You have ruined me. For other men, I yearn. For you, I have no feelings whatsoever. When we’re apart, I can be forever happy. Will you let me be? Yours, Gloria Dear John: I want a man who knows what love is. All about you are generous, kind, thoughtful people, who are not like you. Admit to being useless and inferior. You have ruined me. For other men, I yearn. For you, I have no feelings whatsoever. When we’re apart, I can be forever happy. Will you let me be? Yours, Gloriahttp://

Definitions A sentence is a group of words that expresses a complete thought. A sentence is a group of words that expresses a complete thought. A subject is what the sentence is about. A subject is what the sentence is about. John fishes. A verb is a word that expresses an action or links the subject to the rest of the sentence. A verb is a word that expresses an action or links the subject to the rest of the sentence. John is a great fisherman. John fishes all day.

Definitions Clause – a group of words containing a subject and a verb that indicates time Clause – a group of words containing a subject and a verb that indicates time Independent: Can stand Dependent: Depends on another alone as a sentence clause and cannot stand alone John fishes. While John was fishing at the creek.  Fragment – a group of words that is missing a subject and/or verb Fished all day at the creek.

Definitions Conjunction – a word that joins words, phrases, clauses, or sentences Conjunction – a word that joins words, phrases, clauses, or sentences Salt and pepper Up the hill and over the bridge John fished, but he didn’t catch anything. To remember the seven coordinating conjunctions, remember FANBOYS = for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so To remember the seven coordinating conjunctions, remember FANBOYS = for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so There are also subordinating conjunctions used to make a clause dependent such as because, after, although, while, when, if. There are also subordinating conjunctions used to make a clause dependent such as because, after, although, while, when, if.

Fragment A fragment is an incomplete thought and, therefore, an incomplete sentence. fix by making sure there is a clear subject and a verb that indicates time fix by making sure there is a clear subject and a verb that indicates time Shoes belonging to our fellow partygoers in the basement. (fragment) The shoes in the basement belonged to our fellow partygoers. (complete sentence)

Fused Sentences A fused sentence is two independent clauses glued together. There are several ways to fix a fused sentence. fix with a period fix with a period Eric walked every day for two weeks he lost ten pounds. (fused sentence) Eric walked every day for two weeks. He lost ten pounds. (short, choppy sentences)  fix with a comma + FANBOYS (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so) Benson was guarding me this time the coach had to run a few plays for me. (fused sentence) Benson was guarding me this time, so the coach had to run a few plays for me.

Fused Sentences fix with a semicolon (if you have two independent clauses closely related in meaning) fix with a semicolon (if you have two independent clauses closely related in meaning) I started to laugh he was not amused by it. (fused sentence) I started to laugh; he was not amused by it. fix by making one clause dependent fix by making one clause dependent We couldn’t go to the lake yesterday it started to rain. (fused sentence) We couldn’t go to the lake yesterday because it started to rain.

Comma Splice A comma splice is a fused sentence with a comma incorrectly placed between two complete thoughts. Fix the same way as you would a fused sentence: Fix the same way as you would a fused sentence: –with a comma + FANBOYS –with a semicolon –by making one clause dependent I can’t even explain how or why it happened, I guess one would say that peer pressure was at fault. (comma splice)

Comma Splice I can’t even explain how or why it happened, I guess one would say that peer pressure was at fault. (comma splice) Fix with a comma + FANBOYS I can’t even explain how or why it happened, but I guess one would say that peer pressure was at fault. Fix with a semicolon I can’t even explain how or why it happened; I guess one would say that peer pressure was at fault. Fix by making one clause dependent Although I can’t even explain how or why it happened, I guess one would say that peer pressure was at fault.

A Special Case independent clauses joined by words like “however” independent clauses joined by words like “however” That was one thing that I hoped would have stayed on the court, (IC) however it followed me down the halls. (IC) That was one thing that I hoped would have stayed on the court; however, it followed me down the halls.