Run-on Sentences

1. Run-on Sentences Identifying Run-On Sentences Correcting Run-On Sentences

2. What Are Run-Ons? A run-on occurs when two complete thoughts are run together with no adequate sign to mark the break between them. Run-ons confuse readers.

3. Two Types of Run-Ons • Fused Sentences: A fused sentence occurs when two complete thoughts are fused or joined together with no punctuation in between to mark the break. Examples: * The beach was once beautiful now it is covered with soda cans and cigarette butts. * Human teenagers must be descended from cockroaches they both like to stay out late and eat junk food.

4. 2. Comma Splices: A comma splice occurs when two complete thoughts are connected, or “spliced” together with a comma. Examples: * The hot dog did not begin in Germany, it first appeared in China. * I remember every rainbow I’ve ever seen, one actually circled the sun.

5. How to Correct Run-Ons? The following are four ways to correct run-ons: 1. Use a period and a capital letter; 2. Use a semi-colon; • Use a comma and a coordinate conjunction; 4. Use a subordinate conjunction. (Hint: To find out where to separate the fused thoughts, you can look for words such as I we there now you they this then he, she, it that next These words are often signals to show that another sentence begins.)

6. Correcting Fused Sentences: Example 1: The beach was once beautiful now it is covered with soda cans and cigarette butts. 1). The beach was once beautiful. Now it is covered with soda cans and cigarette butts. 2). The beach was once beautiful; now it is covered with soda cans and cigarette butts. 3). The beach was once beautiful, but now it is covered with soda cans and cigarette butts. 4). Although the beach was once beautiful, it is now covered with soda cans and cigarette butts.

7. Example 2: Human teenagers must be descended from cockroaches they both like to stay out late and eat junk food. 1). Human teenagers must be descended from cockroaches. They both like to stay out late and eat junk food. 2). Human teenagers must be descended from cockroaches; they both like to stay out late and eat junk food. 3). Human teenagers must be descended from cockroaches, for they both like to stay out late and eat junk food. 4). Human teenagers must be descended from cockroaches since they both like to stay out late and eat junk food.

8. Correcting Comma Splices Example 1: The hot dog did not begin in Germany, it first appeared in China. 1). The hot dog did not begin in Germany. It first appeared in China. 2). The hot dog did not begin in Germany; it first appeared in China. 3). The hot dog did not begin in Germany, for it first appeared in China. 4). The hot dog did not begin in Germany because it first appeared in China.

9. Example 2: I remember every rainbow I’ve ever seen, one actually circled the sun. 1). I remember every rainbow I’ve ever seen. One actually circled the sun. 2). I remember every rainbow I’ve ever seen; one actually circled the sun. 3). I remember every rainbow I’ve ever seen, and one actually circled the sun. 4). I remember every rainbow I’ve ever seen while one actually circled the sun.