Run On Sentences By. Grant Higgins

The three parts of run ons Fused- Two main clauses joined with no punctuation. Comma Splice- Incorrectly join two main clauses with a comma. FAILURE- Put no comma before conjunction.

Examples of Fused run ons Bob went to the store he bought some apples. -Wrong / Bob went to the store. He bought some apples. -Correct Laura went to the race track she drove a dirt bike. -Wrong / Laura went to the race track. She drove a dirt bike. -Correct Mike went to school he did his work. –Wrong / Mike went to school. He did his work. - Correct

How to fix the problem Add a period to make two sentences Use a comma and a coordinating conjunction Use a semicolon Use a subordinate conjunction

Strategies to fix Fused Sentences Try and think about using a punctuation in- between two complete thoughts. Don’t try and slide it past your teacher! Think punctuation is usually the answer to a run on sentence.

Examples of Comma Splice Run Ons Bob went to the store, he bought some apples. –Wrong / Bob went to the store; he bought some apples. –Correct Laura went to the bar, she bought some beer. –Wrong / Laura went to the bar; she bought some beer. –Correct Steve went to work, he slacked off. –Wrong / Steve went to work; he slacked off. -Right

How to fix the problem Add a semi colon instead of comma. Add comma AND subordinating conjunction Add a semicolon, a conjunctive adverb or transitional phrase, and a comma

Strategies to fix Comma Splice sentences Don’t think that a comma can fix anything like most people. Try and make the sentence make more sense to the reader not just you. Think outside the box.

Examples of failing to put comma before conjunction We wanted to leave yet something held us back. –Wrong / We wanted to leave, yet something held us back. –Correct We didn’t know what to do so we sat down to wait. –Wrong / We didn’t know what to do, so we sat down to wait. –Correct The place made me uncomfortable for it was cold and damp. –Wrong / The place made me uncomfortable, for it was cold and damp. – Correct

How to fix the problem When there is a conjunction in the middle of a sentence add a comma before it. The most common conjunctions are and, or, but.

Strategies to fix failing to put comma’s before conjunctions Think about you taking a breath for more. It’s like arguing in your sentence, and that is the separator. Tell the other half and that is what you use to help.

Bibliography Berry, Chris, and Allen Brizee. Identifying Independent and Dependent Clauses. Welcome to the Purdue University Online Writing Lab (OWL). The Writing Lab, The OWL at Purdue, and Purdue University, Web. 29 Oct Van Goor, Dianna, and Wanda Goor. Run-On Sentences. Los Angeles Valley College. Bedford Basics: A Workbook for Writers, Web. 28 Oct Chapter 9. Elements of Language: Third Course. Ed. Lee Odell, Richard Vacca, Renee Hobbs, and John E. Warriner. Vol. 3. Austin: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, Print.