Run-on sentences and comma splices

1. Run-on sentences and comma splices EN111 BMCC Winter, 2010

2. Where is the run-on or comma splice? • An old, bent woman trudged alongside the busy highway /she wore several layers of clothing and pushed a shopping cart laden with her belongings. • The computer screen was hard to read, /light from the window created a reflection on the screen surface. • Fitness is important to Sandra,/ she jogs every morning.

3. Where is the run-on or comma splice? • “What does it take to be successful?” Anthony asked his boss Ms Gray told him, “You have to be willing to make a lot of mistakes.” • Vanessa’s brother goes to the university her sister attends a technical school. • The store will open in the morning, it is closed for inventory today.

4. Where is the run-on or comma splice? • Yesterday’s meeting was supposed to last for an hour one hour and forty minutes later, it was still in progress. • Maureen had a part-time job, an active social life, and a full load of courses after she received her first test grade, she decided she needed to spend more time on her coursework. • No matter how many times Antwan went to his instructor’s office, she wasn’t there after a while he decided he needed to make an appointment.

5. FIVE WAYS OF FIXING RUN-ONS OR COMMA SPLICES METHOD ONE: THE PERIOD • The microwave’s buzzer sounded dinner was ready. • The microwave’s buzzer sounded. Dinner was ready.

6. METHOD TWO: COMMA AND FANBOYS CONJUNCION • The microwave’s buzzer sounded dinner was ready. • The microwave’s buzzer sounded, and dinner was ready. Don’t even think about sticking a comma in there and turning a run-on sentence into a comma splice!!!

7. METHOD THREE: SEMICOLON • The microwave buzzer sounded dinner was ready. • The microwave buzzer sounded; dinner was ready.

8. METHOD FOUR: SEMICOLON AND TRANSITIONAL EXPRESSION • The microwave’s buzzer sounded dinner was ready. • The microwave’s buzzer sounded; therefore, dinner was ready.

9. METHOD FIVE: DEPENDENT CLAUSE • The microwave’s buzzer sounded dinner was ready. • After the microwave’s buzzer sounded, dinner was ready. • When the microwave’s buzzer sounded, dinner was ready. • Dinner was ready when the microwave’s buzzer sounded. • Dinner was ready as soon as the microwave’s buzzer sounded.

10. Lessons to be learned • Two complete sentences cannot be connected with a comma. Commas are like no parking signs. Animals use non-verbal communication all the time, humans use hand gestures. Animals use non-verbal communication all the time. Humansuse hand gestures. • Semi-colons are like yield signs; periods are like stop signs. If you use them too often, your writing will feel like when you drive down in a small town small street. Always consider better links for a better flow.

11. Animals use non-verbal communication all the time. Humans use hand gestures. • BETTER: • While animals use non-verbal communication all the time, humans only use hand gestures. • Animals use non-verbal communication all the time, but humans can speak, so they only use hand gestures.