2023-RUN-ON SENTENCES & COMMA SPLICES by Cát Ly Trương Nguyễn

Run-on sentences & Comma splices

catlytruong — 2023-11-01 08:14:21 UTC

I. DEFINITION:

catlytruong — 2023-11-01 08:14:21 UTC

A run-on sentence (or fused sentence) is a grammatically faulty sentence in which two or more independent clauses are joined without any punctuation or coordinating conjunction (FANBOYS).

Example:
Incorrect: Jackson has never eaten chocolate he hates its smell.

Correct: Jackson has never eaten chocolate, for he hates its smell.

II. HOW TO SPOT RUN-ON SENTENCES

catlytruong — 2023-11-01 08:14:21 UTC

By reading them aloud. Listen for a pause or a change in your voice. That may signal that you are moving from the first clause to the second.

Read the following run-on sentences aloud, and see if you can hear where the two clauses in each should be separated.

The best way to find a run-on sentence is to determine whether there is more than one independent clause in the same sentence without punctuation.

Note: A run-on sentence is defined by its grammatical structure, not its length.

1. The two clauses can be made into two separate sentences by adding a period.

catlytruong — 2023-11-01 08:14:21 UTC

End the first independent clause with a period. Begin the next with a capital letter.

Example:
Incorrect: The night was dark and stormy it was hard to see the road through all the rain.
Correct: The night was dark and stormy. It was hard to see the road through all the rain.

2.Use a semicolon

catlytruong — 2023-11-01 08:14:21 UTC

Use a semicolon when the thoughts expressed in the independent clauses are closely related and you want to emphasize that relationship.

Independent clause+ a semicolon+Independent clause
Example:
Incorrect: The night was dark and stormy it was hard to see the road through all the rain.
Correct: The night was dark and stormy; it was hard to see the road through all the rain.

An independent clause containing a conjunctive adverb (such as finally, however, meanwhile, otherwise, or therefore) must be separated from another independent clause with a period or a semicolon.

A semicolon + Conjunctive adverb + Comma
Example:
Incorrect: The night was dark and stormy it was hard to see the road through all the rain.
Correct: The night was dark and stormy; therefore, it was hard to see the road through all the rain.

3. Insert a comma with a coordinating conjunction.

catlytruong — 2023-11-01 08:14:21 UTC

Example:
Incorrect: The night was dark and stormy it was hard to see the road through all the rain.
Correct: The night was dark and stormy, so it was hard to see the road through all the rain.

4.Make one clause subordinate to the other.

catlytruong — 2023-11-01 08:14:21 UTC

By adding subordinating conjunction (such as after, although, because, or until), you can link a dependent clause to an independent clause. Be sure to use subordinating conjunction that explains the relationship between the dependent clause and the independent clause to which it is joined.

Example:
Incorrect: The night was dark and stormy it was hard to see the road through all the rain.
Correct: Because the night was dark and stormy,it was hard to see the road through all the rain.

III. HOW TO CORRECT RUN-ON SENTENCES

catlytruong — 2023-11-01 08:14:21 UTC

I. DEFINITION:

catlytruong — 2023-11-01 08:14:21 UTC

A comma splice is known as a grammatical error or a misuse of commas.

A comma splice (or comma fault) contains two independent clauses joined only by a comma (the coordinating conjunction is missing). A comma by itself cannot join two independent clauses.

Example:

Incorrect: The flowers are beautiful, they brighten the room.

Correct: The flowers are beautiful, so they brighten the room.

II. HOW TO SPOT COMMA SPLICES

catlytruong — 2023-11-01 08:14:21 UTC

Yon can spot a comma splice by looking carefully at your use and placement of commas. If you see a comma between two independent clauses but no coordinating conjunction after the comma, then you have probably spotted a comma splice.

III. HOW TO CORRECT COMMA SPLICES

catlytruong — 2023-11-01 08:14:21 UTC

1. The two clauses can be made into two separate sentences by adding a period.

catlytruong — 2023-11-01 08:14:21 UTC

End the first independent clause with a period. Begin the next with a capital letter.

Example:
Incorrect: The flowers are beautiful, they brighten the room.
Correct: The flowers are beautiful. They brighten the room.

2.Use a semicolon

catlytruong — 2023-11-01 08:14:21 UTC

Use a semicolon when the thoughts expressed in the independent clauses are closely related and you want to emphasize that relationship.

Independent clause+ a semicolon+Independent clause
Example:
Incorrect: The flowers are beautiful, they brighten the room.
Correct: The flowers are beautiful; They brighten the room.

An independent clause containing a conjunctive adverb (such as finally, however, meanwhile, otherwise, or therefore) must be separated from another independent clause with a period or a semicolon.

A semicolon + Conjunctive adverb + Comma
Example:
Incorrect: The flowers are beautiful, they brighten the room.
Correct: The flowers are beautiful; therefore, they brighten the room.

3. Insert a comma with a coordinating conjunction.

catlytruong — 2023-11-01 08:14:21 UTC

Example:
Incorrect: The flowers are beautiful, they brighten the room.
Correct: The flowers are beautiful, and they brighten the room.

4. Make one clause subordinate to the other.

catlytruong — 2023-11-01 08:14:21 UTC

By adding subordinating conjunction (such as after, although, because, or until), you can link a dependent clause to an independent clause. Be sure to use subordinating conjunction that explains the relationship between the dependent clause and the independent clause to which it is joined.

Example:
Incorrect: The flowers are beautiful, they brighten the room.
Correct: Because the flowers are beautiful, they brighten the room.