1. Run-ons/Comma Splices Correcting serious sentence errors

2. Run-ons/Comma Splices Run-ons are sentences that run on and on. No period separates the sentences. There are two types of run-ons: fused sentences and comma splices.

3. Run-ons/Comma Splices A Fused Sentence is two or more sentences smashed (fused) together with no punctuation mark between them. Example: They went to the store they bought milk and bread. Example: My sister called she said she would be visiting during the holidays. Example: One sentence ends then the next begins.

4. Run-ons/Comma Splices A Comma Splice is two or more sentences run together with only a comma between them. Some people believe a comma between two sentences will correct a fused sentence. That belief is wrong! Putting a comma in a fused sentence changes it to a comma splice. Both mistakes are run-ons. Both are serious sentence errors. Example: One sentence ends, the next sentence begins. Example: My sister called, she said she would come over for dinner.

5. Run-ons/Comma Splices Correcting Run-ons and Comma Splices There are four ways to correct comma splices and run-ons to eliminate them from your writing.

6. Run-ons/Comma Splices 1. Put a period and a capital letter between the two sentences. --Example: One sentence ends. The next sentence begins. --Example: My sister called. She said she would be visiting during the holidays.

7. Run-ons/Comma Splices 2. Put a semicolon between the two sentences. The two sentences should be closely related in meaning when they are connected with a semicolon. --Example: One sentence ends; then the next sentence begins. --Example: My sister called; she said she would be visiting during the holidays.

8. Run-ons/Comma Splices 3. Put a comma plus a coordinating conjunction between the two sentences. (and, but, or, nor, for, yet, so) --Example: One sentence ends, and then the next sentence begins. --Example: My sister called, and she said she would be visiting during the holidays.

9. Run-ons/Comma Splices 4. Change the first sentence to a fragment by adding a subordinating conjunction to the beginning. Then put a comma after the fragment. (although, because, since, when, until, if) --Example: When one sentence ends, then the next sentence begins. --Example: When my sister called, she said she would be visiting during the holidays.