1. Style Using a more sophisticated style gets you more marks. Many of you use run-on sentences or comma splicing both of which are incorrect.

2. A run-on sentence is really two sentences that should be separated by some kind of punctuation mark but are not. Below are some examples of run-on sentences. Although they look very clumsy when seen in isolation like this, it is easy to get carried away when writing an essay and end up with run-on sentences. She only rings me at certain times she just wants to make herself feel better. I rushed out to the shop I had no milk left. The professor ran to his office he had just had a brilliant idea.

3. If you find that your sentences are long and each contains more than one idea, you will need to find a way of separating the ideas. You could simply use a full stop. A semi-colon might make the connection between the ideas clearer. You could connect the two clauses with a conjunction of some kind. I rushed out to the shop. I had no milk left. I rushed out to the shop; I had no milk left. I rushed out to the shop because I had no milk left. I rushed out to the shop, as I had no milk left.

4. Comma splicing The only difference between run-ons and comma splices is a comma. A run-on is two sentences joined without any intervening punctuation (Desi likes Lucy Fred likes Ethel.). A comma splice is two sentences mistakenly joined by only a comma (Desi likes Lucy, Fred likes Ethel.) The Comma Splice Error: Choosing a new student government president was difficult, there were many fine candidates. The Run-on Error: Choosing a new student government president was difficult there were many fine candidates.

5. Comma or comma splicing? Commas can be used to join two parts of the same sentence which contain the same idea. Comma splicing is when a comma is used to join two separate ideas in the same sentence.

6. Confused? Well, have a go at the following activities for practise: http://www.bristol.ac.uk/arts/exercises/gram mar/grammar_tutorial/index.htm http://www.bristol.ac.uk/arts/exercises/gram mar/grammar_tutorial/index.htm