WHAT ARE INDEPENDENT AND DEPENDENT CLAUSES?

A clause is a thought that has a subject and verb.

An independent clause is a thought that can stand alone.

A dependent clause is a thought that can not stand alone and depends on the independent clause.

An Example: After we finished dinner, we went to the

movies.The independent clause is in orange and the

dependent clause is in green.

WHAT IS A RUN-ON? “A run-on is two complete thoughts

that are run together with no adequate sign given to make the break down between them” (Langan)

A run-on usually lacks proper punctuation between the clauses.

An Example: Brandon’s car is in the shop and the

transmission has failed.

WHAT IS A COMMA SPLICE?

A comma splice is a type of run-on sentence where two sentences are connected with a comma instead of a semicolon, or a comma and conjunction.

An Example: I go to school, my brother stays home.

WHAT IS A FUSED SENTENCE?

A fused sentence is a type of run-on that has no punctuation marks at all.

It is a run-on that is joined as if it is one single thought.

An Example: Tom read the novel his friend saw the

movie.

WHEN DO RUN-ONS APPEAR?

“When an independent clause gives an order or directive based on what was said in the prior independent clause” (Run-ons).

An Example:“This next chapter has a lot of difficult

information in it, you should start studying right away” (Run-ons).

WHEN DO RUN-ONS APPEAR?

When the second sentence has a pronoun that relates to the first sentence, run-ons frequently occur.

An Example:“The men at the door claimed to have

paving material left over from another job they wanted to pave our driveway for a ‘bargain price’” (Langan)

WHEN DO RUN-ONS APPEAR?

Transitional words or phrases, such as however, therefore, and nevertheless, connecting two clauses is one of the most frequent forms of run-on sentences because it sounds and looks correctly done.

An Example:It’s raining outside therefore don’t forget

your umbrella.

HOW TO FIX RUN-ONS AND COMMA SPLICES:

Write each independent clause separately as sentences.

Examples:“The men at the door claimed to have

paving material left over from another job. They wanted to pave our driveway for a ‘bargain price.’” (Langan).

HOW TO FIX RUN-ONS AND COMMA SPLICES:

“Use a semicolon to separate the two independent clauses” (“Lesson”)

Examples:Brandon’s car is in the shop; the

transmission has failed.Tom read the novel; his friend saw the

movie.

HOW TO FIX RUN-ONS AND COMMA SPLICES:

Use a comma and a connecting word. Connecting words are: For, And, Nor,

But, Or, Yet, and So (FANBOYS) Examples:

“This next chapter has a lot of difficult information in it, so you should start studying right away.” (Run-ons).

I go to school, and my brother stays home.

HOW TO FIX RUN-ONS AND COMMA SPLICES:

“Use a semicolon and one of the following words: therefore, furthermore, thus, however, also, nevertheless, consequently” (“Lesson”)

An Example:It’s raining outside; therefore, don’t

forget your umbrella.

WORKS CITED:Blue, Tina. "What Is a Comma Splice, and How Do I Fix It?.“ Grammar and

Usage for the Non-expert. 11 August 2000. 29 Jun 2009 <http://grammartips.homestead.com/splice.html>.

"Fragments, Run-ons, and Comma Splices." Writing Center.Vincennes University. 30 Jun 2009 <http://www.vinu.edu/cms/opencms/academic_resources/writing_center/wcfragrocs.html>.

Langan, John. College Writing Skills with Readings. 7th. New York: McGraw, 2008.

"Lesson Topic: Run-On Sentences." Myenglishteacher.net.

2001. Advanced learning Center. 25 Jun 2009 <http://www.myenglishteacher.net/runonsentences.html>.

"Run-on Sentences, Comma Splices." The Guide to

Grammar and Writing. Capital Community Technical

College Foundation. 25 Jun 2009. <http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/runons.htm>.

Wertz, Boris. “Finding and Correcting Runons and CommaSplices." copyediting-grammar-style.suite101.com. 25 Jun 2009. <

http://copyediting-grammarstyle.suite101.com/article.cfm/how_ to_correct_runon_sentences_commasplices>.