Run-on Sentences

Writing Center Workshop

 The Sentence
Definition: A sentence is a complete
thought, usually containing at least one
or more independent clauses, beginning
with a capital letter and ending with a
period, a question mark, or an
exclamation point. An independent
clause is a cluster of words that contains
a subject and a predicate and that can
“stand alone.”
 Run-on Sentences
Definition: A run-on sentence is
punctuating and putting together two or
more sentences as if they were one.
There are two basic types of run-on
sentences:

1. Fused Sentence
2. Comma Splice
 Fused Sentences
◗ Definition: In fused ◗ Example: The boy ate
sentences, two or more his dinner his sister
independent clauses played quietly in the
“run together” with no corner.
punctuation.

Independent Independent Independent

Clause Clause Clause

Train analogy (above): The train cars are run together

without any coupling devices.
 Comma Splices
◗ Definition: In comma
splices, two or more
independent clauses
are joined by a comma
only.
◗ Example: The boy ate
his dinner, his sister
played quietly in the
corner.

, ,
Independent Independent Independent
Clause Clause Clause

Train analogy (above): The train cars are joined together

with inadequate coupling devices.
 The Most Common
Comma Splice Error

The most common comma splice error is

the conjunctive adverb comma splice.

Common conjunctive adverbs: again, also,

besides, consequently, further, furthermore,
hence, however, indeed, likewise, moreover,
nevertheless, nonetheless, otherwise, similarly,
then, therefore, thus
 Conjunctive Adverb
Comma Splice
◗ Rule: When joining ◗ Example of Error: The
boy ate his dinner,
independent however, his sister
clauses, the played quietly in the
conjunctive adverb corner.
is preceded by a ◗ Correction: The boy
semi-colon and ate his dinner;
however, his sister
followed by a played quietly in the
comma. corner.
Five Basic Ways of Correcting a
Run-on Sentence
◗ Comma Plus Coordinating Conjunction
◗ Semi-colon
◗ Period and Capital Letter
◗ Subordinate Clauses
◗ Conjunctive Adverb
 Comma Plus Coordinating
Conjunction
◗ Rule: Determine the ◗ Example: The boy
independent clauses. ate his dinner, but his
◗ If there are only two sister played quietly
independent clauses, in the corner.
separate them with a
comma plus a
coordinating
conjunction (and, or,
but, nor, for, so, yet).
 Comma Plus Coordinating
Conjunction
◗ Rule: If there are more ◗ Example: The boy ate his
than two independent dinner, his sister played
clauses in a series, quietly in the corner, and
separate the final two his mother worked on the
independent clauses with a
“spill” the children had
comma and a coordinating
conjunction. made.
◗ Note that independent
clauses other than the final
two are separated with
commas.
 Semi-colon
◗ Rule: Determine the ◗ Example: The boy
independent clauses. ate his dinner; the
◗ Separate those two sister played
or more independent quietly in the
clauses with a semi- corner.
colon.
 Period and Capital Letter
◗ Rule: Determine the ◗ Example: The boy ate
independent clauses. dinner. The sister
◗ Separate those two or played quietly in the
more independent corner.
clauses with a period.
◗ Then begin the
following independent
clause with a capital
letter.
 Subordinate Clauses
◗ Rule: Determine if ◗ Example: While the
one or more of the boy ate dinner, the
independent clauses sister played
can be subordinated. quietly in the
◗ If so, subordinate corner.
those clauses.
 Conjunctive Adverb
◗ Rule: Determine the ◗ Example: The boy ate
independent clauses. his dinner; however,
◗ If there are only two his sister played
independent clauses, quietly in the corner.
separate them with a
semi-colon,
conjunctive adverb,
and comma.
 Exceptions to the Rules*
◗ Exception: Short, ◗ Example: He came,
closely related he saw, he
independent clauses conquered.
in a sequence can
be joined by a
comma only.

* These exceptions are rare.

 Exceptions to the Rules*
◗ Exception: If the ◗ Example: That day I
second of two did not swim, I sold
independent clauses real estate.
reverses the negative
emphasis of the first,
these clauses can be
joined with a comma.

* These exceptions are rare.

 Exceptions to the Rules*
◗ Exception: If the ◗ Example: He does,
second independent doesn’t he?
clause is a “tag”
question, a comma
may be used
between the
clauses.

* These exceptions are rare.

 References
◗ The Random House Handbook, Fourth
Edition, was used as a source for compiling
definitions.