Run-On and Comma Splices

Run-On and Comma Splices By: Alrey Mabaet Ebony Jennings Laura Eppard Branden Gillespie Ashley Robey

Run On Sentences • A run on is a sentence that is actually two • sentences combined into one without proper • punctuation. • Two or more independent clauses combined • without using proper punctuation.

Example of a Run On • Run on sentence: Lily is from Germany she speaks German. • Not a Run on: Lily is from Germany. She speaks German

What are the Clauses? • A clause: a group of words that has a subject and a predicate. • Independent Clause: a group of words that has a subject and a predicate and forms a complete thought. • Dependent Clause:Doesn’t express a complete thought. It can’t stand alone as a full sentence, so it has to be paired with least one independent clause to make a complete sentence.

Examples of Clause Colaspilledover the glass and splashed onto the counter. Cola-SUBJECT(Its being discussed) Spilled, Splashed-VERB (action) My dogloves pizza crusts. Dog-SUBJECT Loves-VERB

Examples of Independent Clause and Dependent Clause Independent Clause sentence Jenny studied in the library for her biology test. It’s complete sentence because it’s telling people that she is studying in the library for her biology test. Dependent Clause sentence When Jenny studied in the library for her test… (What happened to Jenny studying?) Incomplete thought

What are the Conjunctions? • Coordinating Conjunction (FANBOYS) (For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So) Example: Martin likes to go fishing, but Edwin likes to go hiking. • Subordinating Conjunction (uses dependent words) After, although, as, as soon as, because, before, by the time, even if, even though, every time, if, in case, in the event that, just in case, now that, onceonly if, since, the first time, though, unless, until, when, whenever, whereas, whether or not, while, while. Example: A bunny runs fast, although a turtle runs slowly.

How do you fix a run on sentence? • Use a period (.) for each independent clause. Example: I like to play drums.I want to be good at it. • Use a semicolon (;) to make your two sentences to one sentence. Example: I like playing drums; I want to be good at it. • Use comma and a conjunction (FANBOYS) Example: I like playing drums, so I want to be good at it. • Use a subordinating conjunction if necessary. Example: Although Richard often thought about joining the band, he never talked to his friends about it.

What is a Comma Splice? A comma splice is two independent clauses that a comma joins together without a conjunction.

Example of a Comma Splice • Comma splice: John is good in math, he is not good in social science. • Not a comma splice: John is good in math, but he is good in social science.

How to fix a Comma Splice? • Just split the two clauses into two sentences, add a conjunction following the comma, or use a semicolon to replace the comma: • Tara is going bike riding. She forgot her helmet. (Use proper punctuation) • Tara is going bike riding, but she forgot her helmet. (Add conjunction) • Tara is going bike riding; she forgot her helmet. (Add Semi Colon)

Sources • http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/785037/runon_sentences_and_comma_splices.html • http://www.chompchomp.com/terms/clause.htm • http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/clauses.htm • http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/grammar/g_clause.html • http://ocw.usu.edu/English/intermediate-writing/english-2010/-2010/comma-splices • http://www.ehow.com/how_4582033_fix-runon-sentence.html • http://www.utoronto.ca/ucwriting/commasplice.html • Coordinating Conjunction: http://www.chompchomp.com/terms/coordinatingconjunction.htm • http://www.englishclub.com/grammar/conjunctions-coordinating.htm • Subordinating Conjunction: http://englishplus.com/grammar/00000377.htm • http://www.englishclub.com/grammar/conjunctions-subordinating.htm • http://web2.uvcs.uvic.ca/elc/StudyZone/330/grammar/subcon.htm • http;//www.uvsc.edu/owl/info/tests/frags2.html

Run-On and Comma Splices