RUN-ONS&

COMMA SPLICES

RUN-ONS&

COMMA SPLICES

Run-on

happens when you join two simple sentences without a comma and without a connecting word

Example:Men like to shop quickly women like to browse.

Comma splice

happens when you join two simple sentences with a comma alone.

Example:Men like to shop quickly, women like to browse.

3 ways to correct run-on and comma splice errors

1. Join the two sentences with a comma and a coordinating conjunction such as and, but,

or so.

Men like to shop quickly, but women like to browse.

2. Make two sentences. Separate the two sentences with a period.

Men like to shop quickly. Women like to browse.

3. If you wish to show the relationship between the two sentences, add a

sentence connector (and a comma) to the second sentence.

Men like to shop quickly. However, women like to browse.

Parallel StructureParallel StructureParallel StructureParallel Structure

A parallelism item on an objective test A parallelism item on an objective test might look like this might look like this .. .. ..A parallelism item on an objective test A parallelism item on an objective test might look like this might look like this .. .. ..

Sample ItemSample ItemSample ItemSample Item

A.A. Eileen bought new shoes for the party, a gold charm for Eileen bought new shoes for the party, a gold charm for her mother, and to treat her best friend Maria to lunch.her mother, and to treat her best friend Maria to lunch.

B.B. Eileen decided to buy new shoes for the party, Eileen decided to buy new shoes for the party, purchasing a gold charm for her mother, and treating purchasing a gold charm for her mother, and treating her best friend Maria to lunch.her best friend Maria to lunch.

C.C. Eileen purchased new shoes for the party, a gold Eileen purchased new shoes for the party, a gold charm for her mother, and lunch for Maria, her best charm for her mother, and lunch for Maria, her best friend.friend.

A.A. Eileen bought new shoes for the party, a gold charm for Eileen bought new shoes for the party, a gold charm for her mother, and to treat her best friend Maria to lunch.her mother, and to treat her best friend Maria to lunch.

B.B. Eileen Eileen decideddecided to buy new shoes for the party, to buy new shoes for the party, purchasing a gold charm for her mother, and treating purchasing a gold charm for her mother, and treating her best friend Maria to lunch.her best friend Maria to lunch.

C.C. Eileen purchased new shoes for the party, a gold Eileen purchased new shoes for the party, a gold charm for her mother, and lunch for Maria, her best charm for her mother, and lunch for Maria, her best friend.friend.

Directions:Directions: Choose the sentence that has no errors in Choose the sentence that has no errors in structurestructure..

ParallelismParallelism looks like this: looks like this:

Items in a series must have parallel Items in a series must have parallel structure.structure.Items in a series must have parallel Items in a series must have parallel structure.structure.

ShaneShane ,, , , andand

ShaneShane ,, , , andand

..

..

Here is an example:Here is an example:Here is an example:Here is an example:

ShaneShane ateate the pizza,the pizza, wipedwiped his lips, andhis lips, and burpedburped with contentment.with contentment.

Ate = past tense verb; wiped = past tense verb; and burped =

past tense verb.

Ate = past tense verb; wiped = past tense verb; and burped =

past tense verb.

Non-parallel structureNon-parallel structure looks like this:looks like this:

Don’t create problems by mixing grammatical Don’t create problems by mixing grammatical elements.elements.Don’t create problems by mixing grammatical Don’t create problems by mixing grammatical elements.elements.

ShaneShane ,, , , andand

ShaneShane ,, , , andand

..

..

The problem looks like this:The problem looks like this:The problem looks like this:The problem looks like this:

ShaneShane ateate the pizza,the pizza, wipedwiped his lips, andhis lips, and burpingburping with contentment.with contentment.

Now look what you’ve done! Ate and wiped = past tense verbs, but

burping = present participle!

Now look what you’ve done! Ate and wiped = past tense verbs, but

burping = present participle!

Practice Questions: Part 1Practice Questions: Part 1Practice Questions: Part 1Practice Questions: Part 1

Directions:Directions: In the items that follow, choose In the items that follow, choose the sentence that has no errors in structure.the sentence that has no errors in structure.

Item 1Item 1Item 1Item 1

A.A. Barking dogs, kittens that were meowing, and Barking dogs, kittens that were meowing, and squawking parakeets greet the pet shop squawking parakeets greet the pet shop visitors.visitors.

B.B. Barking dogs, meowing kittens, and squawking Barking dogs, meowing kittens, and squawking parakeets greet the pet shop visitors.parakeets greet the pet shop visitors.

C.C. Dogs that bark, kittens that meow, and Dogs that bark, kittens that meow, and parakeets squawking greet the pet shop parakeets squawking greet the pet shop visitors.visitors.

A.A. Barking dogs, kittens that were meowing, and Barking dogs, kittens that were meowing, and squawking parakeets greet the pet shop visitors.squawking parakeets greet the pet shop visitors.

B.B. Barking dogs, meowing kittens, and squawking Barking dogs, meowing kittens, and squawking parakeets greet the pet shop visitors.parakeets greet the pet shop visitors.

C.C. Dogs that bark, kittens that meow, and parakeets Dogs that bark, kittens that meow, and parakeets squawking greet the pet shop visitors.squawking greet the pet shop visitors.

Item 2Item 2Item 2Item 2

A.A. During class, Samuel spent his time flirting with During class, Samuel spent his time flirting with Brittney, eating candy, and doodling on the Brittney, eating candy, and doodling on the assignment sheet.assignment sheet.

B.B. During class, Samuel spent his time flirting with During class, Samuel spent his time flirting with Brittney, he ate candy, and doodling on the Brittney, he ate candy, and doodling on the assignment sheet.assignment sheet.

C.C. During class, Samuel spent his time to flirt with During class, Samuel spent his time to flirt with Brittney, to eat candy, and doodling on the Brittney, to eat candy, and doodling on the assignment sheet.assignment sheet.

A.A. During class, Samuel spent his time flirting with During class, Samuel spent his time flirting with Brittney, eating candy, and doodling on the Brittney, eating candy, and doodling on the assignment sheet.assignment sheet.

B.B. During class, Samuel spent his time flirting with During class, Samuel spent his time flirting with Brittney, he ate candy, and doodling on the Brittney, he ate candy, and doodling on the assignment sheet.assignment sheet.

C.C. During class, Samuel spent his time to flirt with During class, Samuel spent his time to flirt with Brittney, to eat candy, and doodling on the Brittney, to eat candy, and doodling on the assignment sheet.assignment sheet.

Item 3Item 3Item 3Item 3

A.A. Alex looked everywhere for his math book—Alex looked everywhere for his math book—under the bed, on his desk, and he searched under the bed, on his desk, and he searched inside the refrigerator.inside the refrigerator.

B.B. Alex looked everywhere for his math book—Alex looked everywhere for his math book—viewing under the bed, searching on his desk, viewing under the bed, searching on his desk, and inside the refrigerator.and inside the refrigerator.

C.C. Alex looked everywhere for his math book—Alex looked everywhere for his math book—under the bed, on his desk, and inside the under the bed, on his desk, and inside the refrigerator.refrigerator.

A.A. Alex looked everywhere for his math book—under Alex looked everywhere for his math book—under the bed, on his desk, and he searched inside the the bed, on his desk, and he searched inside the refrigerator.refrigerator.

B.B. Alex looked everywhere for his math book—viewing Alex looked everywhere for his math book—viewing under the bed, searching on his desk, and inside the under the bed, searching on his desk, and inside the refrigerator.refrigerator.

C.C. Alex looked everywhere for his math book—under Alex looked everywhere for his math book—under the bed, on his desk, and inside the refrigerator.the bed, on his desk, and inside the refrigerator.

Item 4Item 4Item 4Item 4

A.A. The manager wanted staff who arrived on time, The manager wanted staff who arrived on time, smiled at the customers, and didn’t snack on smiled at the customers, and didn’t snack on the chicken nuggets.the chicken nuggets.

B.B. The manager wanted staff who arrived on time, The manager wanted staff who arrived on time, would be smiling at the customers, and would would be smiling at the customers, and would not be snacking on the chicken nuggets.not be snacking on the chicken nuggets.

C.C. The manager wanted staff who arrived on time, The manager wanted staff who arrived on time, smiled at the customers, and no snacking on smiled at the customers, and no snacking on the chicken nuggets.the chicken nuggets.

A.A. The manager wanted staff who arrived on The manager wanted staff who arrived on time, smiled at the customers, and didn’t time, smiled at the customers, and didn’t snack on the chicken nuggets.snack on the chicken nuggets.

B.B. The The managermanager wanted staff who arrived on time, wanted staff who arrived on time, would be smiling at the customers, and would would be smiling at the customers, and would not be snacking on the chicken nuggets.not be snacking on the chicken nuggets.

C.C. The manager wanted staff who arrived on time, The manager wanted staff who arrived on time, smiled at the customers, and no snacking on smiled at the customers, and no snacking on the chicken nuggets.the chicken nuggets.

Item 5Item 5Item 5Item 5

A. After giving Jeremy her phone number, Felicia had to tolerate his late night calls, stupid conversations, and requests for her math homework.

B. After giving Jeremy her phone number, Felicia had to tolerate his late night calls, the fact that he carried on stupid conversations, and requests for her math homework.

C. After giving Jeremy her phone number, Felicia had to tolerate being woken up late at night, having stupid conversations, and he constantly requested her math homework.

A. After giving Jeremy her phone number, Felicia had to tolerate his late night calls, silly conversations, and requests for her math homework.

B. After giving Jeremy her phone number, Felicia had to tolerate his late night calls, the fact that he carried on silly conversations, and requests for her math homework.

C. After giving Jeremy her phone number, Felicia had to tolerate being woken up late at night, having silly conversations, and he constantly requested her math homework.

Practice Questions: Part 2Practice Questions: Part 2Practice Questions: Part 2Practice Questions: Part 2

Directions:Directions: In the items that follow, choose In the items that follow, choose the correct word or phrase within the context the correct word or phrase within the context suggested by the sentence.suggested by the sentence.

Now try a different

type!

Now try a different

type!

Item 6Item 6Item 6Item 6

Pasta boiling in water, __________, and garlic Pasta boiling in water, __________, and garlic bread baking in the oven welcomed Francisco as bread baking in the oven welcomed Francisco as he opened the door.he opened the door.

A.A.simmered tomato sauce in the pansimmered tomato sauce in the panB.B.tomato sauce simmering in the pantomato sauce simmering in the panC.C.tomato sauce that simmered in the pantomato sauce that simmered in the panD.D.saucy tomatoes that were simmering in the pansaucy tomatoes that were simmering in the pan

Pasta boiling in water, __________, and garlic bread Pasta boiling in water, __________, and garlic bread baking in the oven welcomed Francisco as he opened baking in the oven welcomed Francisco as he opened the door.the door.

A.A.simmered tomato sauce in the pansimmered tomato sauce in the panB.B.tomato sauce simmering in the pantomato sauce simmering in the panC.C.tomato sauce that simmered in the pantomato sauce that simmered in the panD.D.saucy tomatoes that were simmering in the pansaucy tomatoes that were simmering in the pan

Item 7Item 7Item 7Item 7

During our vacation in the Bahamas, we hope During our vacation in the Bahamas, we hope __________, to enjoy beautiful sunsets, and to __________, to enjoy beautiful sunsets, and to dance ourselves dizzy at reggae clubs.dance ourselves dizzy at reggae clubs.

A.A.that we eat delicious seafoodthat we eat delicious seafoodB.B.that eating delicious seafood occursthat eating delicious seafood occursC.C.to eat delicious seafoodto eat delicious seafoodD.D.eating delicious seafoodeating delicious seafood

During our vacation in the Bahamas, we hope During our vacation in the Bahamas, we hope __________,__________, to enjoy beautiful sunsets, and to to enjoy beautiful sunsets, and to dance ourselves dizzy at reggae clubs.dance ourselves dizzy at reggae clubs.

A.A.that we eat delicious seafoodthat we eat delicious seafoodB.B.that eating delicious seafood occursthat eating delicious seafood occursC.C.to eat delicious seafoodto eat delicious seafoodD.D.eating delicious seafoodeating delicious seafood

Item 8Item 8Item 8Item 8

Karen wished Ray chewed with his mouth closed, Karen wished Ray chewed with his mouth closed, for otherwise he was everything she wanted in a for otherwise he was everything she wanted in a date; he was tall, intelligent, and __________.date; he was tall, intelligent, and __________.

A.A.he looked goodhe looked goodB.B.being good lookingbeing good lookingC.C.one handsome man to look atone handsome man to look atD.D.handsomehandsome

Karen wished Ray chewed with his mouth closed, for Karen wished Ray chewed with his mouth closed, for otherwise he was everything she wanted in a date; he otherwise he was everything she wanted in a date; he was tall, intelligent, and __________.was tall, intelligent, and __________.

A.A.he looked goodhe looked goodB.B.being good lookingbeing good lookingC.C.one handsome man to look atone handsome man to look atD.D.handsomehandsome

Item 9Item 9Item 9Item 9

To win Laurie’s love, Albert visited the florist for To win Laurie’s love, Albert visited the florist for roses, the drugstore for a box of chocolates, and roses, the drugstore for a box of chocolates, and __________.__________.

A.A.bought an expensive gold necklace at the bought an expensive gold necklace at the jewelry storejewelry storeB.B.the jeweler for an expensive gold necklacethe jeweler for an expensive gold necklaceC.C.the jeweler where he bought an expensive gold the jeweler where he bought an expensive gold necklacenecklaceD.D.to buy an expensive gold necklaceto buy an expensive gold necklace

To win Laurie’s love, Albert visited the florist for roses, To win Laurie’s love, Albert visited the florist for roses, the drugstore for a box of chocolates, and __________.the drugstore for a box of chocolates, and __________.

A.A.bought an expensive gold necklace at the jewelry bought an expensive gold necklace at the jewelry storestoreB.B.the jeweler for an expensive gold necklacethe jeweler for an expensive gold necklaceC.C.the jeweler where he bought an expensive gold the jeweler where he bought an expensive gold necklacenecklaceD.D.to buy an expensive gold necklaceto buy an expensive gold necklace

Item 10Item 10Item 10Item 10

Kimberly won’t date Terry because he is too short, Kimberly won’t date Terry because he is too short, too noisy, and _________.too noisy, and _________.

A.A.because he picks his teeth with his fingersbecause he picks his teeth with his fingersB.B.too impolitetoo impoliteC.C.is the most impolite man she has ever metis the most impolite man she has ever metD.D.Picking his teeth with his fingersPicking his teeth with his fingers

Kimberly won’t date Terry because he is too short, too Kimberly won’t date Terry because he is too short, too noisy, and _________.noisy, and _________.

A.A.because he picks his teeth with his fingersbecause he picks his teeth with his fingersB.B.too impolitetoo impoliteC.C.is the most impolite man she has ever metis the most impolite man she has ever metD.D.Picking his teeth with his fingersPicking his teeth with his fingers

The End.The End.