Comma Splices & Run-ons

Run-ons

Comma Splices &

COMMA SPLICE:2 sentences joined with a comma

Comma Splice

Sentence sentence.

I was late for work

Spliced sentences

,

my boss was angry.,

comma splice

sentence 2

sentence 1

Flying can be dangeroustrain travel seems much safer .

,

Example:

comma splice

sentence 2

sentence 1

School has been canceled todaystudents have the day off.

,

Another Example:

comma splice

sentence 2

sentence 1

I was late for work this morningmy boss was angry at me again.

,

Another Example:

Comma Splice

To “splice” means to join the ends of 2 items

Spliced

Comma Splice Film is often spliced when a scene is

cut from a movie

Spliced

It’s a comma splice.

NOT “comma slice”

NOT “comma spice”

A comma is too weak to join sentences.

Sentence Sentence

Yep, I’m pretty weak!!These sentences are too much!!

Comma splices are serious sentence

errors

Just say NO to comma splices

comma splice

sentence 2

sentence 1

Craco is a city in Italy earthquakes

caused residents to abandon it in 1963.

,

A Final Example:

RO

A Run-on Sentence is…

joining 2 complete sentences with nothing in between

Run-on!

Run-on sentences are not necessarily long.

I never fly I always take the train.

Run-on!

nothing here

sentence 2

sentence 1

School has been canceled todaystudents have the day off.

Run-on sentence

sentence 2

sentence 1

Many students are sleep deprived

sleeping in class is not a good idea.

nothing here

Run-on sentence

sentence 2

sentence 1

Barbeque sauce contains a lot of sugar

it’s like pancake syrup on your food.

nothing hereRun-on sentence

Q

Q: What is the difference between a

comma splice and a

run-on sentence?

A: a comma!

School has been canceled today students have the day off.

,

Comma splice

A comma between 2 sentences = comma splice

Nothing between the sentences

Run-on sentence

1, 2, 3, 4

1, 2, 3, 4Four solutions to correct run-ons and

comma splices.

Use a semi-colon.

#1

;Sentence sentence.

1: Use a semi-colon.

A semi-colon (;) can be used between 2 closely related sentences.

School has been canceled today;students have the day off.

1: Use a semi-colon.

2 closely related sentences.

;train travel seems much safer.

Flying can be dangerous

.

Use a period.

#2

.Sentence Sentence.

A period (.) creates

2 shorter sentences.

I was late for work this morning.My boss was angry at me again.

2: Use a period.

CC

Use a coordinating conjunction.

#3

FANBOYS(for / and / nor / but / or / yet / so )

Sentence sentence., and, but, or, so, yet, nor

3. Use a coordinating conjunction

Note the use of a comma here

Follow this pattern:

Sentence , and sentence.

I was late for work this morning , andmy boss was angry at me again.

3. Use a coordinating conjunction

, so

, but I always take the train. I never fly

3. Use a coordinating conjunction

I never fly , for I always take the train.

I never fly , and I always take the train.

DC

Make one sentence a dependent clause.

#4

4: Make one sentence a dependent clause.

Dependent clause, sentence.

Sentence dependent clause.

or

A dependent clause begins with a

subordinating conjunction.

Because

4: Make one sentence a dependent clause.

Although When

If Since Unless

4: Make one sentence a dependent clause.

it’s like pancake syrup on your food.

Because barbeque sauce contains a lot of sugar

Dependent clause, sentence.

Barbeque sauce contains a lot of sugar

Run-on

,

4: Make one sentence a dependent clause.

sleeping in class is not a good idea.

Dependent clause, sentence.

Many students are sleep deprivedWhile many students are sleep deprived,

4: Make one sentence a dependent clause.

since I always travel by train. I never fly

dependent clause. Sentence

challenge

CHALLENGE! Comma Splices and Run-on sentences

Q: Is this a comma splice or a run-on?

Although it rained all weekend, the campers had fun the campfire even stayed lit long enough to roast marshmallows.

A: It’s a run-on!

Although it rained all weekend, the campers had fun the campfire even stayed lit long enough to roast marshmallows.

Although it rained all weekend, the campers had fun the campfire even stayed lit long enough to roast marshmallows.

Although it rained all weekend, the campers had fun. The campfire even stayed lit long enough to roast marshmallows.

Correcting the run-on

Although it rained all weekend, the campers had fun; the campfire even stayed lit long enough to roast marshmallows.

Q: Comma splice or a run-on?

After finding our seats, we all fell asleep, everyone was tired.

A: It’s a comma splice

After finding our seats, we all fell asleep, everyone was tired. This comma joins

2 sentences

Correcting the comma splice

After finding our seats, we all fell asleep; everyone was tired.

Correcting the comma splice

After finding our seats, we all fell asleep because everyone was tired.

Q: How can this run-on sentence be corrected?

I drank too much coffee at work this morning I have been talking very fast.

A: Use a semicolon

“I drank too much coffee at work this morning; I have been talking very fast.”

“I drank too much coffee at work; this morning I have been talking very fast.”

A: Make 2 sentences

“I drank too much coffee. At work this morning, I have been talking very fast.”

“I drank too much coffee at work this morning. I have been talking very fast.”

A: Make a dependent clause

“Because I drank too much coffee at work this morning, I have been talking very fast.”

A: Lay off the coffee!!

Thanks!!! I’ll finish this cup and then do some

yoga!!!

Q: Where can this sentence be divided?

The students waited in the classroom for 30 minutes no one showed up.

A: Here or here!

The students waited in the classroom for 30 minutes no one showed up.

The students waited in the classroom for 30 minutes no one showed up.

Make 2 sentences

.fF

The students waited in the classroom for 30 minutes but no one showed up.

Use a coordinating conjunction

, but

Although the students waited in the classroom for 30 minutes no one showed up.

Tt

Make a dependent clause

Although

,

REVIEWComma splices and Run-on sentences

4 ways to fix comma splices & run-on sentences

Use a coordinating conjunction:

Sentence, and sentence. , but , or

Use a semicolon:

Sentence; sentence.

Use a period:

Sentence. Sentence

Use a Dependent Clause:

Dependent clause, sentence.

Now that you know what they are…

Avoid comma splices and run-ons in your writing!

by: A. Campbell