Runon Sentences

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Run-on Sentences

• Writing Center Workshop

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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.
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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
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Fused Sentences

• Definition In fused sentences, two or more
  independent clauses run together with no
  punctuation.

• Example The boy ate his dinner his sister played
  quietly in the corner.

Independent Clause
Independent Clause
Independent Clause
Train analogy (above) The train cars are run
together without any coupling devices.
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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 Clause
Independent Clause
Independent Clause
Train analogy (above) The train cars are joined
together with inadequate coupling devices.
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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
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Conjunctive Adverb Comma Splice

• Rule When joining independent clauses, the
  conjunctive adverb is preceded by a semi-colon
  and followed by a comma.

• Example of Error The boy ate his dinner,
  however, his sister played quietly in the corner.
• Correction The boy ate his dinner however, his
  sister played quietly in the corner.

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Five Basic Ways of Correcting a Run-on Sentence

• Comma Plus Coordinating Conjunction
• Semi-colon
• Period and Capital Letter
• Subordinate Clauses
• Conjunctive Adverb

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Comma Plus Coordinating Conjunction

• Rule Determine the independent clauses.
• If there are only two independent clauses,
  separate them with a comma plus a coordinating
  conjunction (and, or, but, nor, for, so, yet).

• Example The boy ate his dinner, but his sister
  played quietly in the corner.

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Comma Plus Coordinating Conjunction

• Example The boy ate his dinner, his sister
  played quietly in the corner, and his mother
  worked on the spill the children had made.

• Rule If there are more than two independent
  clauses in a series, separate the final two
  independent clauses with a comma and a
  coordinating conjunction.
• Note that independent clauses other than the
  final two are separated with commas.

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Semi-colon

• Rule Determine the independent clauses.
• Separate those two or more independent clauses
  with a semi-colon.

• Example The boy ate his dinner the sister
  played quietly in the corner.

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Period and Capital Letter

• Rule Determine the independent clauses.
• Separate those two or more independent clauses
  with a period.
• Then begin the following independent clause with
  a capital letter.

• Example The boy ate dinner. The sister played
  quietly in the corner.

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Subordinate Clauses

• Rule Determine if one or more of the independent
  clauses can be subordinated.
• If so, subordinate those clauses.

• Example While the boy ate dinner, the sister
  played quietly in the corner.

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Conjunctive Adverb

• Rule Determine the independent clauses.
• If there are only two independent clauses,
  separate them with a semi-colon, conjunctive
  adverb, and comma.

• Example The boy ate his dinner however, his
  sister played quietly in the corner.

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Exceptions to the Rules

• Exception Short, closely related independent
  clauses in a sequence can be joined by a comma
  only.

• Example He came, he saw, he conquered.

These exceptions are rare.
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Exceptions to the Rules

• Exception If the second of two independent
  clauses reverses the negative emphasis of the
  first, these clauses can be joined with a comma.

• Example That day I did not swim, I sold real
  estate.

These exceptions are rare.
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Exceptions to the Rules

• Exception If the second independent clause is a
  tag question, a comma may be used between the
  clauses.

• Example He does, doesnt he?

These exceptions are rare.
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References

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