Learning
with Sir Ben
RUN-ON SENTENCES
AND COMMA SPLICES
RUN-ON SENTENCES
Run-on sentences can be divided into two types:
1. When a writer puts no mark of punctuation and
no coordinating conjunction between
independent clauses
2. Comma splice, which occurs when two or more
independent clauses are joined by just a comma
and no coordinating conjunction.
RUN-ON SENTENCES Run-on sentences or fused
sentences are simply two or more
independent sentences mistakenly
written as one without putting
appropriate conjunctions or
punctuations between them.
RUN-ON SENTENCES
EXAMPLE
I ran to the door my sister
stormed in suddenly she
burst into tears.
2 Ways to Correct
RUN-ON SENTENCES
1. Use a correct end mark between
sentences: a period, a question mark, or
an exclamation mark. A comma is not
an end mark. It does not separate
complete sentences.
RUN-ON SENTENCES
EXAMPLE
I ran to the door my sister
stormed in suddenly she
burst into tears.
RUN-ON SENTENCES
EXAMPLE
I ran to the door. My sister
stormed in. Suddenly she
burst into tears.
RUN-ON SENTENCES
TRY THIS!
My favorite band is in
town they are performing
now.
RUN-ON SENTENCES
CORRECTED
My favorite band is in
town. They are performing
now.
2 Ways to Correct
RUN-ON SENTENCES
2. Join the run-on sentences through
conjunctions; subordinating
conjunctions such as because, while,
although, since, when, if, as;
coordinating conjunctions such as and,
but, for, or, nor, so, yet, and a comma.
RUN-ON SENTENCES
EXAMPLE
I ran to the door my sister
stormed in suddenly she
burst into tears.
RUN-ON SENTENCES
EXAMPLE
As I ran to the door, my
sister stormed in.
Suddenly she burst into
tears.
RUN-ON SENTENCES
TRY THIS!
My favorite band is in
town they are performing
now.
RUN-ON SENTENCES
CORRECTED
My favorite band is in
town, and they are
performing now.
COMMA SPLICE
A comma splice is the
incorrect use of a comma to
join two independent
clauses.
4 Ways to Correct
COMMA SPLICE
1. Connect the main clauses
with a coordinating
conjunction and a comma.
EXAMPLE
COMMA SPLICE
The witness was unwilling
to testify, he was afraid of
the accused man.
EXAMPLE
COMMA SPLICE
The witness was unwilling
to testify, for he was afraid
of the accused man.
TRY THIS!
COMMA SPLICE
I avoided deserts, I was
trying to lose weight.
CORRECTED
COMMA SPLICE
I avoided deserts, for I was
trying to lose weight.
4 Ways to Correct
COMMA SPLICE
2. Replace the comma with
a semicolon.
EXAMPLE
COMMA SPLICE
The witness was unwilling
to testify, he was afraid of
the accused man.
EXAMPLE
COMMA SPLICE
The witness was unwilling
to testify; he was afraid of
the accused man.
TRY THIS!
COMMA SPLICE
I avoided deserts, I was
trying to lose weight.
CORRECTED
COMMA SPLICE
I avoided deserts; I was
trying to lose weight.
4 Ways to Correct
COMMA SPLICE
3. Make a separate
sentence of each main
clause.
EXAMPLE
COMMA SPLICE
The witness was unwilling
to testify, he was afraid of
the accused man.
EXAMPLE
COMMA SPLICE
The witness was unwilling
to testify. He was afraid of
the accused man.
TRY THIS!
COMMA SPLICE
I avoided deserts, I was
trying to lose weight.
CORRECTED
COMMA SPLICE
I avoided deserts. I was
trying to lose weight.
4 Ways to Correct
COMMA SPLICE
4. Change one of the main
clauses to a separate clause
using subordinating
conjunctions.
EXAMPLE
COMMA SPLICE
The witness was unwilling
to testify, he was afraid of
the accused man.
EXAMPLE
COMMA SPLICE
Because the witness was
afraid of the accused man,
he was unwilling to testify.
TRY THIS!
COMMA SPLICE
I avoided deserts, I was
trying to lose weight.
CORRECTED
COMMA SPLICE
Since I was trying to lose
weight, I avoided deserts.
