Comma Splices and Run-on Sentences

Raja AlTukruni

Table of Contents

• Pre-Test 4

• Answers to Pre-Test 5 • Comma Splices and Run-on Sentences 6 • Strategies to correct/ avoid splices and run-ons 8 • Post-Test 13

• Answers to Post-Test 15 • Activity 1 16 • Answers to Activity 1 17 • Activity 2 18 • Answers to Activity 2 21 • Activity 3 22• Answers to Activity 3 23• Assignment 25

Pre-Test

Directions: Underline the run-ons and comma splices. (5 errors)

When Mark began his full-time job, he quickly ran into financial problems. He immediately got a credit card, he began to buy expensive clothes he also bought impressive gifts for his parents and his wife. But Mark realized that he owed an enormous amount of money, he also realized the need to cut up his credit card. He began keeping a careful record of his spending he was surprised to find out where his money was going, his parents were proud of his growing maturity.

Paragraph is adapted from https://www.elcamino.edu/academics/basicskills/DLA_EngB_ROandCS_ECC.pdf

Answers to Pre-Test

When Mark began his full-time job, he quickly ran into financial problems. He immediately got a credit card, he began to buy expensive clothes he also bought impressive gifts for his parents and his wife. But Mark realized that he owed an enormous amount of money, he also realized the need to cut up his credit card. He began keeping a careful record of his spending he was surprised to find out where his money was going, his parents were proud of his growing maturity.

What are Comma Splices & Run-on Sentences?

Comma Splices & Run-on Sentences

Comma splices

• Two independent clauses/ sentences are linked by simply adding a comma.

• For example:

Frank saw the movie, his friend read the novel.

Run-ons

• Two independent clauses/ sentences are written as one.

• For example:

Frank saw the movie his friend read the novel.

Are there strategies to correct/ avoid comma splices

& run-ons?

Strategies to Correct/ Avoid Splices & Run-ons

Conjunction Period ).( Semi-colon (;)

Insert a conjunction (FANBOYS: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so) after the comma.

Place (.) after the first clause and start the second clause with a capital letter.

Use (;) to separate main clauses/ sentences.

HOW?!!

Frank saw the movie, his friend read the novel.

1. Semicolon: Frank saw the movie; his friend read the novel.

2. Period: Frank saw the movie. His friend read the novel.

3. Conjunction (FANBOYS): Frank saw the movie, but his friend read the novel.

Practice

Directions: Correct the underlined run-ons and comma splices using one of the strategies.

When Mark began his full-time job, he quickly ran into financial problems. He immediately got a credit card, he began to buy expensive clothes he also bought impressive gifts for his parents and his wife. But Mark realized that he owed an enormous amount of money, he also realized the need to cut up his credit card. He began keeping a careful record of his spending he was surprised to find out where his money was going, his parents were proud of his growing maturity.

Possible Answers

When Mark began his full-time job, he quickly ran into financial problems. He immediately got a credit card, and he began to buy expensive clothes. He also bought impressive gifts for his parents and his wife. But Mark realized that he owed an enormous amount of money; he also realized the need to cut up his credit card. He began keeping a careful record of his spending, and he was surprised to find out where his money was going. His parents were proud of his growing maturity.

Post-Test

Directions: Identify whether the following sentences are: correct (C), contain a comma splice (CS) or a run-on (RO).

• For example:

Pasta is my favorite food I don’t like pizza. (RO)

Cont.

1. Ann explained her project to us, it was very interesting. (_____)

2. It was raining; Jack could not find his umbrella. (_____) 3. His car would not start, he was late for work. (_____)

4. Tom wants to quiet smoking he knows this habit is very dangerous. (_____)

5. Sam and Anna are a very nice couple they have been together for 30 years. (_____)

Answers to Post-Test

1. CS

2. C

3. CS

4. RO

5. RO

Activity 1

Directions: Correct the run-ons and splices by using one of the strategies previously discussed.

1. Ann explained her project to us, it was very interesting.

2. His car would not start, he was late for work.

3. Tom wants to quiet smoking he knows this habit is very dangerous.

4. Sam and Anna are a very nice couple they have been together for 20 years.

Possible Answers

1. Ann explained her project to us; it was very interesting.

2. His car would not start, so he was late for work.

3. Tom wants to quiet smoking; he knows this habit is very dangerous.

4. Sam and Anna are a very nice couple. They have been together for 20 years

Activity 2

Directions: pair up the independent clauses below with:a comma+ conjunction, semicolon or period.

• For example:

-He won the lottery. -He quit his job.

He won the lottery, so he quit his job.

Cont.

1. I love cats. I’m allergic.

2. We took a taxi. Frank drove home.

3. Taylor is a graceful dancer. Fans enjoy watching her.

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Cont.

4. James Cameron directed Titanic. The movie won 11 Oscars.

5. Studying history is important. We need to know about the past to understand our present.

6. Friendship brings support and joy. It’s one of the greatest gifts in life. -----------------------------------------

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Possible Answers

1. I love cats, but I’m allergic.

2. We took a taxi; Frank drove home.

3. Taylor is a graceful dancer. Fans enjoy watching her.

4. James Cameron directed Titanic; the movie won 11 Oscars.

5. Studying history is important; we need to know about the past to understand our present.

6. Friendship brings support and joy. It’s one of the greatest gifts in life.

Activity 3

Directions: Underline the errors and then correct them using the strategies previously discussed. (4 errors)

American Idol has impacted people all around the globe, it made everyone who watched believe they had real talent author Golway says teenagers used to aspire to important professional jobs (e.g., engineers, mathematicians, scientists…). He claims that now young people just want to become famous for being pop culture icons, he thinks this is a dangerous change. This desperate desire for fame explains why some people react so strangely when rejected on American Idol they see it as their only option for the future.

Paragraph is adapted from http://www.edcc.edu/lsc/documents/Run-onsModule.pdf

Answers to Activity 3

Part1: Underline the errors:

American Idol has impacted people all around the globe, it made everyone who watched believe they had real talent author Golway says teenagers used to aspire to important professional jobs (e.g., engineers, mathematicians, scientists…). He claims that now young people just want to become famous for being pop culture icons, he thinks this is a dangerous change. This desperate desire for fame explains why some people react so strangely when rejected on American Idol they see it as their only option for the future.

Cont.

Part2: Correction (Possible Answers):

American Idol has impacted people all around the globe, and it made everyone who watched believe they had real talent. Author Golway says teenagers used to aspire to important professional jobs (e.g., engineers, mathematicians, scientists…). He claims that now young people just want to become famous for being pop culture icons; he thinks this is a dangerous change. This desperate desire for fame explains why some people react so strangely when rejected on American Idol; they see it as their only option for the future.

Assignment

1. Decide if the sentence is a comma splice or a correct sentence:

(10 Qs)

https://depts.dyc.edu/learningcenter/owl/exercises/comma_splices_ex1.htm

2. Decide if the sentence is a run- on or a correct sentence: (10 Qs)

https://depts.dyc.edu/learningcenter/owl/exercises/run-ons_ex1.htm

3. Correct the run-ons and comma splices : (10 Qs)

http://smrtvideolessons.com/2013/07/26/run-on-sentences-and-comma-splices/#sthash.E3zKbDta.dpbs

References

Finding and Fixing Run-on Sentence Errors. Retrieved from http://www.edcc.edu/lsc/documents/Run-onsModule.pdf

Online Writing Lab - Comma Splices, Exercise 1. Retrieved from https://depts.dyc.edu/learningcenter/owl/exercises/comma_splices_ex1.htm

Online Writing Lab - Run-on Sentences, Exercise 1. Retrieved from https://depts.dyc.edu/learningcenter/owl/exercises/run-ons_ex1.htm

Run-On Sentences and Comma Splices | Smrt Video Lessons. Retrieved from http://smrtvideolessons.com/2013/07/26/run-on-sentences-and-comma-splices/#sthash.E3zKbDta.dpbs

Run-Ons, Comma Splices Course - El Camino College. Retrieved from https://www.elcamino.edu/academics/basicskills/DLA_EngB_ROandCS_ECC.pdf