Run On SentencesBy. Grant Higgins

The three parts of run ons

• Fused- Two main clauses joined with no punctuation.

• Comma Splice- Incorrectly join two main clauses with a comma.

• FAILURE- Put no comma before conjunction.

Examples of Fused run ons

• Bob went to the store he bought some apples. -Wrong / Bob went to the store. He bought some apples. -Correct

• Laura went to the race track she drove a dirt bike. -Wrong / Laura went to the race track. She drove a dirt bike. -Correct

• Mike went to school he did his work. –Wrong / Mike went to school. He did his work. -Correct

How to fix the problem

Add a period to make two sentencesUse a comma and a coordinating conjunctionUse a semicolonUse a subordinate conjunction

Strategies to fix Fused Sentences

• Try and think about using a punctuation in-between two complete thoughts.

• Don’t try and slide it past your teacher!• Think punctuation is usually the answer to a

run on sentence.

Examples of Comma Splice Run Ons

• Bob went to the store, he bought some apples. –Wrong / Bob went to the store; he bought some apples. –Correct

• Laura went to the bar, she bought some beer. –Wrong / Laura went to the bar; she bought some beer. –Correct

• Steve went to work, he slacked off. –Wrong / Steve went to work; he slacked off. -Right

How to fix the problem

• Add a semi colon instead of comma.• Add comma AND subordinating conjunction• Add a semicolon, a conjunctive adverb or

transitional phrase, and a comma

Strategies to fixComma Splice sentences

• Don’t think that a comma can fix anything like most people.

• Try and make the sentence make more sense to the reader not just you.

• Think outside the box.

Examples of failing to put comma before conjunction

• We wanted to leave yet something held us back. –Wrong / We wanted to leave, yet something held us back. –Correct

• We didn’t know what to do so we sat down to wait. –Wrong / We didn’t know what to do, so we sat down to wait. –Correct

• The place made me uncomfortable for it was cold and damp. –Wrong / The place made me uncomfortable, for it was cold and damp. –Correct

How to fix the problem

• When there is a conjunction in the middle of a sentence add a comma before it.

• The most common conjunctions are and, or, but.

Strategies to fixfailing to put comma’s before conjunctions

• Think about you taking a breath for more.• It’s like arguing in your sentence, and that is

the separator.• Tell the other half and that is what you use to

help.

Bibliography Berry, Chris, and Allen Brizee. Identifying Independent and Dependent Clauses. Welcome

to the Purdue University Online Writing Lab (OWL). The Writing Lab, The OWL at Purdue, and Purdue University, 2010. Web. 29 Oct. 2010.

http://owl.english.purdue.edu/.

Van Goor, Dianna, and Wanda Goor. Run-On Sentences. Los Angeles Valley College. Bedford Basics: A Workbook for Writers, 1994. Web. 28 Oct. 2010.

http://www.lavc.edu/wcweb/runons.html.

Chapter 9. Elements of Language: Third Course. Ed. Lee Odell, Richard Vacca, Renee Hobbs, and John E. Warriner. Vol. 3. Austin: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 2005. 325-29. Print.