1. Run-Ons and Comma Splices (G#7)
TONIGHT’S HOMEWORK
Complete revision of classification essay (submit second draft on Canvas and to a tutor and bring TWO printouts),
begin Grammar #7 (run-ons and comma splices), due Thursday, March 23, on Canvas, AND
review LBCH pp and (or LR pp )

2. RUN-ONS and COMMA SPLICES LBCH, pp. 269-273

3. Remember the Difference Between Clauses and Phrases
A CLAUSE is a group of words that contains a subject and its verb. the boy ran people talk it is if you go
A PHRASE is a group of words that does NOT contain a subject and its verb. the boy next door people with loud voices being hungry for a while

4. Run-Ons and Comma Splices (G#7)
Clauses and Phrases
Run-Ons and Comma Splices (G#7)
The important things to remember:
A clause has a subject and complete verb that go together; a phrase doesn’t.
An “-ing” verb cannot be the only verb in a sen-tence. With no helping verb, it makes a phrase.
A phrase can never be a sentence by itself.
Clauses must be connected in very specific ways whereas phrases can be added more freely. Compound sentences use a comma and FANBOYS or a semicolon; complex sentences use a dependent word or a relative pronoun.

5. Run-ons
fused sentence = two independent clauses (S+V groups) joined without any separation
comma splice = two independent clauses (S+V groups) joined with just a comma
p. 277

6. Run-ons: Fused Sentences
Munchkin had a big problem she took a few minutes to think about it.

7. Run-ons: Fused Sentences
Munchkin had a big problem. She took a few minutes to think about it.
Munchkin had a big problem she took a few minutes to think about it.
This one sentence actually contains two complete sentences. However, in my rush to get that idea out, I made it into one incorrect sentence.

8. Run-ons: Comma Splices
Do NOT simply add a comma between the two sentences, or you create a comma splice.
Munchkin had a big problem, she took a few minutes to think about it.
p. 277

9. Munchkin had a big problem. She took a few minutes to think about it.
Ways to correct a run-on (fused sentence) or comma splice:
1. Make it into two separate sentences.
Munchkin had a big problem. She took a few minutes to think about it.
p. 278

10. NOW, YOU TRY IT:
The penguins were excited they planned a trip to Madagascar.
STEP 1: Get rid of extra stuff like prepositional phrases and interrupters.
The penguins were excited they planned a trip to Madagascar.

11. NOW, YOU TRY IT:
The penguins were excited they planned a trip to Madagascar.
STEP 2: Find the subject(s) and verb(s).
The penguins were excited they planned a trip to Madagascar.

12. The penguins were excited they planned a trip to Madagascar.
NOW, YOU TRY IT:
The penguins were excited they planned a trip to Madagascar.
STEP 3: Determine how the clauses are joined
no punctuation at all = run-on (RO)
comma where a period could go = comma splice (CS)

13. NOW, YOU TRY IT:
RUN-ON: The penguins were excited they planned a trip to Madagascar.
FIXED: The penguins were excited. They planned a trip to Madagascar.

14. Munchkin had a big problem; she took a few minutes to think about it.
Ways to correct a run-on (fused sentence) or comma splice:
2a. Use a semicolon alone…
Munchkin had a big problem; she took a few minutes to think about it.
p. 278

15. NOW, YOU TRY IT WITH A SEMICOLON:
RUN-ON: The penguins were excited they planned a trip to Madagascar.
FIXED: The penguins were excited; they planned a trip to Madagascar.

16. Ways to correct a run-on (fused sentence) or comma splice:
2b. Use a semicolon with a transi-tional expression and a comma.
Munchkin had a big problem; therefore, she took a few minutes to think about it.
When a TRANSITIONAL EXPRESSION (also called an adverbial conjunction or a conjunctive adverb) separates two clauses, use a SEMICOLON where the period would go and a COMMA after the transitional expression.
p. 278

17. COMMON TRANSITIONAL EXPRESSIONS
also besides clearly
even so finally first (second, third)
for example furthermore however
in addition in conclusion indeed
in fact likewise meanwhile
moreover nevertheless next
nonetheless of course otherwise
similarly still therefore
then* (no comma) thus ultimately

18. NOW, YOU TRY IT WITH A SEMI, A TRANSITION, AND A COMMA:
RUN-ON: The penguins were excited they planned a trip to Madagascar.
FIXED: The penguins were excited; as a result, they planned a trip to Madagascar.
FIXED: The penguins were excited; meanwhile, they planned a trip to Madagascar.

19. Ways to correct a run-on (fused sentence) or comma splice:
3. Use a comma and a coordina- ting conjunction (FANBOYS).
Munchkin had a big problem, so she took a few minutes to think about it.
p. 278

20. “FANBOYS” words (p. 192): FOR AND NOR BUT OR YET SO

21. NOW, YOU TRY IT WITH A COMMA AND A FANBOYS:
RUN-ON: The penguins were excited they planned a trip to Madagascar.
FIXED: The penguins were excited, so they planned a trip to Madagascar.

22. Ways to correct a run-on (fused sentence) or comma splice:
4. Use a subordinating conjunc-tion (dependent word).
Although Munchkin had a big problem, she took a few minutes to think about it.
Munchkin had a big problem until she took a few minutes to think about it.
p. 279

23. Notice the comma difference:
Although Munchkin had a big problem, she took a few minutes to think about it.
Munchkin had a big problem until she took a few minutes to think about it.
When the subordinator comes at the beginning, it needs a comma before the next clause. When the subordinator comes in the middle, it gets no comma.

24. COMMON DEPENDENT WORDS
after* although as as if as though because before* even even though if like* now that once since so that though unless until what whatever when whenever where wherever whereas whether while

25. NOW, YOU TRY IT WITH A DEPENDENT WORD IN THE MIDDLE:
RUN-ON: The penguins were excited they planned a trip to Madagascar.
FIXED: The penguins were excited because they planned a trip to Madagascar.

26. RUN-ON: The penguins were excited they planned a trip to Madagascar.
NOW, YOU TRY IT WITH A DEPEN-DENT WORD AT THE BEGINNING AND A COMMA IN THE MIDDLE:
RUN-ON: The penguins were excited they planned a trip to Madagascar.
FIXED: Whenever the penguins were excited, they planned a trip to Madagascar.

27. Want to get fancy? Try it with a relative pronoun clause:
Run-Ons and Comma Splices (G#7)
Want to get fancy? Try it with a relative pronoun clause:
RUN-ON: The penguins were excited they planned a trip to Madagascar.
RUN-ON: Skipper the Penguin was excited he planned a trip to Madagascar.
FIXED: Skipper the Penguin, who was excited, planned a trip to Madagascar.
FIXED: The penguins that were excited planned a trip to Madagascar.

28. Run-Ons and Comma Splices (G#7)
SENTENCE ERRORS
Fragments happen when a word group is missing a subject, a verb, and/or a complete thought.
Fused sentences (run-ons) happen when two clauses are joined incorrectly
with no punctuation at all.
Comma splices happen when two independent clauses are joined incorrectly with just a comma.

29. Complete sentence = S + V + complete thought.
Examples: S + V. S + V . (2 sentences) S + V ; S + V . (semicolon) S + V , and S + V . (comma + FANBOYS)
(one type of frag.) (dep. word)
Fragment = Because + S + V.
Fused sentence = S + V + S + V.
Comma splice = S + V , S + V.

30. Run-Ons and Comma Splices (G#7)
FOLLOW THESE STEPS:
Get rid of prepositional phrases and interrupters.
Find the subject(s) and the verb(s). The verb is the action (unless it is a linking verb); the subject is the one doing the action.
If you have only one clause, it could be a complete sentence (if it is an independent clause) or a fragment (if it is dependent).
If you have two or more clauses, look at how they are joined (semi, comma + FANBOYS, dependent word, relative pronoun)

31. Grammar #7 Preview: Run-Ons (Fused Sentences), Comma Splices, and Fragments Complete the full exercise online before the due date.
Adrian plays basketball every afternoon, he is great at lay-ups. a. comma splice b. run-on c. fragment d. correct
I agree. a. comma splice b. run-on c. fragment d. correct
Sam found a stray cat in the barn so he left it there to chase the mice. a. comma splice b. run-on c. fragment d. correct
If he were younger and better-looking. a. comma splice b. run-on c. fragment d. correct
Rita’s party was a huge success, for everyone had a great time. a. comma splice b. run-on c. fragment d. correct