© Capital Community College Original PowerPoint downloaded from Capital Community College, adapted by Kimberly Cauble for 6 th Grade ELA at OMS

© Capital Community College Avoiding Run-on Sentences The length of a sentence has nothing to do with whether or not a sentence is considered a run-on. An over-exuberant, run-off-at-the-mouth, 400-word gorilla of a sentence can actually be structurally fine! A run-on sentence is one in which two complete thoughts (clauses) have been connected incorrectly.

© Capital Community College Avoiding Run-on Sentences Some students think they can study for an important test by “cramming” all night, they are probably wrong. This is an example of the dreaded COMMA SPLICE! A comma splice connects two independent clauses with only a comma. IT IS CONSIDERED A RUN ON and WRONG. There are several ways to fix a comma splice....

© Capital Community College Avoiding Run-on Sentences 1. We can insert a period and start a new sentence. Some students think they can study for an important test by “cramming” all night. T hey are probably wrong. 2. We can insert a comma plus a coordinating conjunction. Some students think they can study for an important test by “cramming” all night, but they are probably wrong. 3. We can use a semicolon. Some students think they can study for an important test by “cramming” all night ; they are probably wrong.

© Capital Community College Avoiding Run-on Sentences On your paper, correct the comma splice/run-on sentence by following each trick: Once upon a time, there was a beautiful princess, her name was Gertrude the Gorgeous. 1. Insert a period and start a new sentence. 2. Insert a comma plus a coordinating conjunction. 3. Insert a semicolon.

© Capital Community College Avoiding Run-on Sentences 1.Insert a period and start a new sentence. Once upon a time, there was a beautiful princess. Her name was Gertrude the Gorgeous. 2. Insert a comma plus a coordinating conjunction. Once upon a time, there was a beautiful princess, and her name was Gertrude the Gorgeous. 3. Insert a semicolon. Once upon a time, there was a beautiful princess; her name was Gertrude the Gorgeous.

© Capital Community College How do you avoid writing run-ons?  Is it possible to write everything perfectly the first time you write down your ideas?  NO!!! But as you write, you can try not to link too many ideas together.  To make sure you haven’t created run ons, PROOFREAD CAREFULLY during the EDITING/REVISING stage of writing!  Then your readers will be so much happier as they breathe through your writing!

© Capital Community College Avoiding Run-on Sentences Now you’ll never again write a run- on sentence!