1. How to recognize and avoid these sentence killers!
Run-on Sentences
How to recognize and avoid these sentence killers!

2. Review: Compound Sentences
A compound sentence contains two or more independent clauses properly joined together. A run-on sentence contains two or more independent clauses IMPROPERLY joined together.

3. Proper Ways to Join Clauses
Option 1: a comma and a conjunction (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so)
I like donuts, but donuts make me fat.
Option 2: a semi-colon
I like donuts; they taste great.
Option 3: a semi-colon, a transitional word, and a comma
I like donuts; however, donuts make me fat.

4. More examples of transitional words
However
Furthermore
On the other hand
Consequently
Nevertheless
In addition
Therefore
I eat donuts every morning; consequently, I have gained thirty pounds this month.
I understand the dangers of donut consumption; nevertheless, I can’t stop eating them.

5. Improper ways to join clauses
Just put a comma between the two independent clauses.
I hate exercise, it is not fun.
Some people call this a comma splice or a run-on
Don’t put anything between the two independent clauses
I hate exercise it is not fun.
Some people call this a fused sentence or a run-on

6. Fixing run-on sentences
In order to fix a run-on, you should join the two clauses in one of the acceptable ways:
Comma and conjunction
Semi-colon
Semi-colon, transitional word, and comma
OR you can divide the two clauses into two sentences

7. Fix this run-on sentence
My husband is going bald, he looks funny.
My husband is going bald, so he looks funny.
My husband is going bald; he looks funny.
My husband is going bald; consequently, he looks funny.
My husband is going bald. He looks funny.

8. One more solution…
Your book also suggests joining the two independent clauses through subordination. This means you will turn one of the independent clauses into a dependent clause by adding a dependent word.
Run-on: My husband is going bald, he looks funny.
Solution: Since my husband is going bald, he looks funny.

9. Practice Quiz List two IMPROPER ways of joining independent clauses
List four ways to fix a run-on sentence
Fix all of the run-on sentences on pages using a variety of methods.