Download Run-ons and comma splices - Thomas Nelson Community College

WHAT ARE INDEPENDENT
AND DEPENDENT CLAUSES?
A
clause is a thought that has a subject
and verb.
 An independent clause is a thought
that can stand alone.
 A dependent clause is a thought that
can not stand alone and depends on the
independent clause.
 An Example:


After we finished dinner, we went to the
movies.
The independent clause is in orange and
the dependent clause is in green.
WHAT IS A RUN-ON?
 “A
run-on is two complete thoughts
that are run together with no
adequate sign given to make the
break down between them” (Langan)
 A run-on usually lacks proper
punctuation between the clauses.
 An Example:

Brandon’s car is in the shop and the
transmission has failed.
WHAT IS A COMMA SPLICE?
A
comma splice is a type of run-on
sentence where two sentences are
connected with a comma instead of
a semicolon, or a comma and
conjunction.
 An Example:

I go to school, my brother stays home.
WHAT IS A FUSED SENTENCE?
A
fused sentence is a type of run-on
that has no punctuation marks at
all.
 It is a run-on that is joined as if it is
one single thought.
 An Example:

Tom read the novel his friend saw the
movie.
WHEN DO RUN-ONS APPEAR?
 “When
an independent clause gives
an order or directive based on what
was said in the prior independent
clause” (Run-ons).
 An Example:

“This next chapter has a lot of difficult
information in it, you should start
studying right away” (Run-ons).
WHEN DO RUN-ONS APPEAR?
 When
the second sentence has a
pronoun that relates to the first
sentence, run-ons frequently occur.
 An Example:

“The men at the door claimed to have
paving material left over from
another job they wanted to pave our
driveway for a ‘bargain price’”
(Langan)
WHEN DO RUN-ONS APPEAR?
 Transitional
words or phrases, such
as however, therefore, and
nevertheless, connecting two clauses
is one of the most frequent forms of
run-on sentences because it sounds
and looks correctly done.
 An Example:

It’s raining outside therefore don’t
forget your umbrella.
HOW TO FIX RUN-ONS AND
COMMA SPLICES:
 Write
each independent clause
separately as sentences.
 Examples:

“The men at the door claimed to have
paving material left over from
another job. They wanted to pave our
driveway for a ‘bargain price.’”
(Langan).
HOW TO FIX RUN-ONS AND
COMMA SPLICES:
 “Use
a semicolon to separate the two
independent clauses” (“Lesson”)
 Examples:
Brandon’s car is in the shop; the
transmission has failed.
 Tom read the novel; his friend saw the
movie.

HOW TO FIX RUN-ONS AND
COMMA SPLICES:
 Use
a comma and a connecting
word.
 Connecting words are: For, And,
Nor, But, Or, Yet, and So
(FANBOYS)
 Examples:
“This next chapter has a lot of difficult
information in it, so you should start
studying right away.” (Run-ons).
 I go to school, and my brother stays
home.

HOW TO FIX RUN-ONS AND
COMMA SPLICES:
 “Use
a semicolon and one of the
following words: therefore,
furthermore, thus, however, also,
nevertheless, consequently”
(“Lesson”)
 An Example:

It’s raining outside; therefore, don’t
forget your umbrella.
WORKS CITED:
Blue, Tina. "What Is a Comma Splice, and How Do I Fix It?.“ Grammar
and Usage for the Non-expert. 11 August 2000. 29 Jun 2009
<http://grammartips.homestead.com/splice.html>.
"Fragments, Run-ons, and Comma Splices." Writing Center.Vincennes
University. 30 Jun 2009
<http://www.vinu.edu/cms/opencms/academic_resources/writin
g_center/wcfragrocs.html>.
Langan, John. College Writing Skills with Readings. 7th. New York:
McGraw, 2008.
"Lesson Topic: Run-On Sentences." Myenglishteacher.net.
2001. Advanced learning Center. 25 Jun 2009
<http://www.myenglishteacher.net/runonsentences.html>.
"Run-on Sentences, Comma Splices." The Guide to
Grammar and Writing. Capital Community Technical
College Foundation. 25 Jun 2009.
<http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/runons.htm>.
Wertz, Boris. “Finding and Correcting Runons and Comma
Splices." copyediting-grammar-style.suite101.com. 25 Jun 2009.
<http://copyediting-grammarstyle.suite101.com/article.cfm/how_
to_correct_runon_sentences_commasplices>.