Run-on Sentences

eg1471/jc/dec2008 Run-on Sentences A run-on sentence error occurs when two independent clauses are put together without punctuation or a connector. * Engineering feats have propelled mankind forward they may also have caused a huge divide between the developed and the developing countries.x

eg1471/jc/dec2008 Run-on Sentences The punctuation used to avoid this is either a full stop or a semicolon. Engineering feats have propelled mankind forward. They may also have caused a huge divide between the developed and the developing countries. Engineering feats have propelled mankind forward; they may also have caused a huge divide between the developed and the developing countries.

eg1471/jc/dec2008 Run-on Sentences and Comma Splice Errors A comma used by itself to separate 2 independent clauses becomes a comma splice error. Use a conjunction to avoid this type of error. For example: Engineering feats have propelled mankind forward, but they may also have caused a huge divide between the developed and the developing countries.

eg1471/jc/dec2008 Run-on Sentences and Comma Splice Run-on sentence or comma splice errors can also be corrected by using a conjunction with a full stop or semicolon at the end of the previous independent clause. Engineering has propelled mankind forward; however, it may also cause a huge divide between developed and developing countries. Engineering has propelled mankind forward. However, it may also cause a huge divide between developed and developing countries.

eg1471/jc/dec2008 Identify and correct the error. Genetically modified food can solve food shortage in developing countries it poses some problems. Genetically modified food can solve food shortage in developing countries. It poses some problems. (add punctuation: use a full stop or a semicolon) Run-on sentence errors Genetically modified food can solve food shortage in developing countries; however it poses some problems. (use a full stop or a semicolon and add a transition )

eg1471/jc/dec2008 Identify the error and correct it. Wind energy is clean energy, however it requires space. Wind energy is clean energy; however, it requires space. (add a semicolon before the transition and a comma after it) Wind energy is clean energy. However, it requires space. (add a full stop before the capitalized conjunction and a comma after it) Comma splice errors

eg1471/jc/dec2008 References Lane, A. and Lange, E. (1999). Writing Clearly: An Editing Guide (2 nd ed.). Boston: Heinle and Heinle Publishers, Oshima, A. and Hogue, A. (2006). Writing Academic English (4 th ed.). New York: Pearson Education, Raimes, A. (2006). Grammar Troublespots: A Guide for Student Writers (3 rd ed.). New York: Cambridge University Press,