Style

1. Style • Using a more sophisticated style gets you more marks. Many of you use run-on sentences or comma splicing both of which are incorrect.

2. A run-on sentence is really two sentences that should be separated by some kind of punctuation mark but are not. Below are some examples of run-on sentences. Although they look very clumsy when seen in isolation like this, it is easy to get carried away when writing an essay and end up with run-on sentences. She only rings me at certain times she just wants to make herself feel better. I rushed out to the shop I had no milk left. The professor ran to his office he had just had a brilliant idea.

3. If you find that your sentences are long and each contains more than one idea, you will need to find a way of separating the ideas. You could simply use a full stop. A semi-colon might make the connection between the ideas clearer. You could connect the two clauses with a conjunction of some kind. I rushed out to the shop. I had no milk left. I rushed out to the shop; I had no milk left. I rushed out to the shop because I had no milk left. I rushed out to the shop, as I had no milk left.

4. Comma splicing • The only difference between run-ons and comma splices is a comma. A run-on is two sentences joined without any intervening punctuation • (Desi likes Lucy Fred likes Ethel.). • A comma splice is two sentences mistakenly joined by only a comma (Desi likes Lucy, Fred likes Ethel.) • The Comma Splice Error: Choosing a new student government president was difficult, there were many fine candidates. • The Run-on Error: Choosing a new student government president was difficult there were many fine candidates.

5. Comma or comma splicing? • Commas can be used to join two parts of the same sentence which contain the same idea. • Comma splicing is when a comma is used to join two separate ideas in the same sentence.

6. Confused? • Well, have a go at the following activities for practise: • http://www.bristol.ac.uk/arts/exercises/grammar/grammar_tutorial/index.htm