Transcript Run-ons and Comma Splices

Run-ons and Comma
Splices
Run-ons
• The following is an example of a runon sentence:
– I was hesitant to take the calculus class
math has never been my best subject.
• What is the mistake with this sentence?
• How would you fix it?
One way to correct a
run-on sentence
• One way to correct a run-on is to put
a period between the two
independent clauses.
– Ex. I was hesitant to take the calculus
class. Math has never been my best
subject.
A second way to correct
a run-on
• You could also use a comma and a
coordinating conjunction to separate the
two independent clauses.
– Ex. I was hesitant to take the calculus class,
for math has never been my best subject.
• If you choose this way to correct a run-on, be sure
to choose a coordinating conjunction that makes
sense with the rest of the sentence.
A third way to correct a
run-on
• You could use a semicolon between
the independent clauses.
– Ex. I was hesitant to take the calculus
class; math has never been my best
subject.
• In order to use the semicolon correctly, the
two independent clauses need to be related
and you MUST have an independent clause
on each side of the semicolon.
Yet another way to
correct a run-on
• The fourth way to correct a run-on is to
make one of the clauses dependent by
adding a subordinating conjunction.
– Ex. I was hesitant to take the calculus class
because math has never been my best subject.
• If you make the first clause dependent, be sure to
put a comma between the two clauses.
Comma Splices
• The following is an example of a
comma splice:
– I heard a strange noise, then the lights
went out.
• What is wrong with this sentence?
• How would you correct it?
Ways to correct a
comma splice
• The same four corrections for a runon can also be used to correct a
comma splice.
–
–
–
–
Add a period
Add a coordinating conjunction
Add a semicolon
Make one clause dependent
Corrections
• I heard a strange noise. Then the lights
went out.
• I heard a strange noise, and then the
lights went out.
• I heard a strange noise; then the lights
went out.
• After I heard a strange noise, the lights
went out.