Run Ons

1. Run Ons two sentences which should have been separated by appropriate marks but were joined together as one or were joined inappropriately by a comma

2. Why are Run-Ons a problem? • Cause confusion: where thoughts ends and start She came in the library confused she did not know what to do the books were all cluttered, there were no people around she wanted to scream however all she did was faint.

3. 2 Kinds of Run-Ons Fused sentence Comma splices

4. Fused Sentences Fused sentences • Samantha wants a cat Jane likes to have a dog. • The class went out for a walk The weather was so inviting they could not help themselves. Sentences are joined without any appropriate punctuations to break the idea of the sentences

5. Comma Splice Comma Splice • Samantha wants a cat, Jane likes to have a dog. • The class went out for a walk , the weather was so inviting they could not help themselves. Although ideas are separated, the marker used is a comma which is inappropriate to separte complete and separate thoughts apart

6. Identifying Run-ons and Fused • I wish Carl would not fall asleep in class, his snoring drowns out the lecture. • The crime rate in this country is increasing, every eight seconds another home is burglarized. • Our car radio is not working properly we get whistling noises and static instead of music. • Cats sleep in all sorts of unusual places, our new cat likes to curl up in the bathroom sink.

7. Warning: Words To Avoid • Using these words to start the second thought would often lead to run on sentences: • I • You • He, she, it • We • They • There • This • That • Now • Then • next • Common among these words: • Subjects • Introductory words

8. How to Edit Run-ons • Period and capital letters • The class went out for a walk . The weather was so inviting they could not help themselves. • Use a comma plus joining words (coordinating conjunctions) • The class went out for a walk , for the weather was so inviting they could not help themselves. • The weather was so inviting , so the class went out for a walk.

9. Coordinating Conjunctions • For – similar meaning with because • And - addition • Nor – negative option • But - contrast • Or – positive option • Yet - contrast • So - conclusion

10. How to Edit Run-ons • Use of semi-colon (or with a transitional word: conjunctive adverbs) • The class went out for a walk ; the weather was so inviting they could not help themselves. • Method of subordination (subordinating conjunctions) • The class went out for a walk because the weather was so inviting they could not help themselves.

11. Conjunctive Adverbs • however • in contrast • incidentally • indeed • instead • likewise • meanwhile • moreover • namely • nevertheless • next • nonetheless • now • otherwise • rather • similarly • so • subsequently • still • that is • then • thereafter • therefore • thus • undoubtedly • accordingly • also • anyway • again • besides • certainly • consequently • contrarily • finally • further • furthermore • elsewhere • hence • henceforth

12. Conjunctive Adverbs • Notice the difference • Sam wants a new car; however, his mom would not allow him to have one. • Sam wants a new car. His mom, however, would not allow him to have one.

13. Subordinating Conjunctions • whether • if • though • which • in order that • till • while • lest • unless • who • before • that • wherever • but that • though • no matter • until • why • how • what • even though • after • since • when • although • so that • whenever • as (vs. like) • supposing • where • Because (vs. that) • than • whereas

14. Using Periods • When is it used? • Used when the thoughts are not closely related to each other • If other options would make the idea too long • Example: • Gerald's motorized wheelchair broke down. He was unable to go to class.

15. Using Periods • Try these • Carol talks a lot all the time her tongue is getting calluses. • Gary was not successful in convincing the class the class would not agree with him no matter what he does .

16. Comma And Joining Words • When is it used? • If there is a logical connection between ideas where the coordinating conjunction can be used • Example: • I want a car, and Dan wants a bike.

17. Comma And Joining Words • Try these • Something was obviously wrong, nobody wants to admit. • Everybody wants some time off everybody wants to be refreshed.

18. Semi Colon • When is it used? • Signals a pause that is not as long as a period but much longer than a comma • Add variation in sentence structure • Can be used with transitions • Example: • I just cancelled my cell phone; service the bill was just too expensive. • My cellphone service was too expensive; therefore, I had just cancelled it.

19. Semi Colon • Try these activity • Nate never heard the third base coach screaming for him to stop he was out at home plate by ten feet. • I figured that the ball game would cost me about ten dollars I did not consider the high price of food and drinks.

20. Subordination • When is it used? • Change one of the combined complete thoughts (independent clauses) into dependent clauses • Add subordinating conjunctions: depends on the relationship that you want to show between the two clauses • Example: • I did not push through my reservation WHEN I found out it was very inconvenient.

21. Semi Colon • Try these activity • Rosa did not want to die of lung cancer she decided to stop smoking. • My brothers wanted to watch a Star Trek rerun the rest of the family insisted on turning to the network news.