© 2002 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Sentence Skills: A Workbook for Writers, Form A John Langan Run-Ons

© 2002 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Sentence Skills, Form A, 7E Run-Ons Rob exercises everyday he should be in good condition. Rob exercises everyday, he should be in good condition. ErrorErrorErrorError Fused Sentences: They are fused or joined together as if they were only one thought. Comma Splices Comma Splices: A comma is used to connect or “splice” together the two complete thoughts. A NOT comma alone is NOT ENOUGH ENOUGH to connect two complete sentences. The Two Types of Run-On Sentences

© 2002 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Sentence Skills, Form A, 7E Run-Ons There are three common methods of correcting a run-on: –Use a period and a capital letter. –Use a comma plus a joining word (and, but, for, or, nor, so, yet) to connect the two complete thoughts. –Use a semicolon to connect the two complete thoughts: Note: A fourth method of correcting a run-on is to use subordination. How to Correct Run-Ons

© 2002 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Sentence Skills, Form A, 7E Run-Ons Use this method especially if the thoughts are not closely related. One way of correcting a run-on is to use a period and a capital letter between the two complete sentences. Use this method especially if the thoughts are not closely related. Kristin plays the guitar well she hopes to start her own band. Revision: Kristin plays the guitar well. She hopes to start her own band. Revision: Kristin plays the guitar well. She hopes to start her own band. Correcting Run-On Sentences

© 2002 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Sentence Skills, Form A, 7E Run-Ons There are seven joining words (also called Another way of correcting a run-on is to use a comma plus a joining word to connect the two complete thoughts. There are seven joining words (also called conjunctions). Kristin plays the guitar well, and she hopes to start her own band. Kristin plays the guitar well, and she hopes to start her own band. Correcting Run-On Sentences

© 2002 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Sentence Skills, Form A, 7E Run-Ons One way to remember the seven coordinating conjunctions is to put them in this order: A And F F or N Nor B But OOrOOr Y Yet SSoSSo “FANBOYS” Michael plays the trumpet well, so he hopes to be selected for the jazz band. Adding a Coordinating Conjunction

© 2002 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Sentence Skills, Form A, 7E Run-Ons A third method of correcting a run-on is to use a semicolon to mark the break between two sentences. A looks like a period above a comma. A semicolon looks like a period above a comma. When it is used to correct run-ons, the semicolon can be used alone or with a transitional word. When it is used to correct run-ons, the semicolon can be used alone or with a transitional word. Kristin plays the guitar well; she hopes to start her own band. Also correct: Kristin plays the guitar well; consequently, she hopes to start her own band. Correcting Run-On Sentences

© 2002 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Sentence Skills, Form A, 7E Run-Ons Practice Review: Identify each entry as correct or incorrect. (Click to see the answer.) 1. The temperature dropped below freezing last night. below freezing last night. We had to bring our plants indoors. Learning to Identify and Correct Comma Splices

© 2002 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Sentence Skills, Form A, 7E Run-Ons Practice Review: Identify each entry as correct or incorrect. 1. The temperature dropped below freezing last night. We had to bring our plants indoors. Correct Learning to Identify and Correct Comma Splices

© 2002 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Sentence Skills, Form A, 7E Run-Ons Practice Review: Identify each entry as correct or incorrect. 2.The temperature dropped below freezing last night; we had to bring our plants indoors. 2. The temperature dropped below freezing last night; we had to bring our plants indoors. Correct Learning to Identify and Correct Comma Splices

© 2002 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Sentence Skills, Form A, 7E Run-Ons Practice Review: Identify each entry as correct or incorrect. 3. The temperature dropped below freezing last night, so we had to bring our plants indoors. Correct Learning to Identify and Correct Comma Splices

© 2002 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Sentence Skills, Form A, 7E Run-Ons Practice Review: Identify each entry as correct or incorrect. 4. The temperature dropped below freezing last night, we had to bring our plants indoors. Incorrect Learning to Identify and Correct Comma Splices

© 2002 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Sentence Skills, Form A, 7E Run-Ons Practice Review: Identify each entry as correct or incorrect. 5. Because the temperature dropped below freezing last night, we had to bring our plants indoors. Correct Learning to Identify and Correct Comma Splices

© 2002 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Sentence Skills, Form A, 7E Run-Ons Practice Review: Identify each entry as correct or incorrect. 6. If the temperature drops below freezing tonight, we must remember to bring our plants indoors. Correct Learning to Identify and Correct Comma Splices

© 2002 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Sentence Skills, Form A, 7E Run-Ons Practice Review: Identify each entry as correct or incorrect. 7.The temperature dropped below freezing last night, therefore, we had to bring our plants indoors. “Therefore” is not one of the seven coordinating conjunctions, so it cannot be used with a comma between two independent clauses. See your text for a list of transitional words.. Incorrect Learning to Identify and Correct Comma Splices

© 2002 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Sentence Skills, Form A, 7E Run-Ons Practice Review: Identify each entry as correct or incorrect. 8.The temperature dropped below freezing last night, thus we had to bring our plants indoors. Incorrect Learning to Identify and Correct Comma Splices

© 2002 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Sentence Skills, Form A, 7E Run-Ons Practice Review: Identify each entry as correct or incorrect. 9.The temperature dropped below freezing last night we had to bring our plants indoors. we had to bring our plants indoors. It is a fused sentence. Incorrect Learning to Identify and Correct Comma Splices