UWF WRITING LABRULES OF THUMB FOR RECOGNIZING COMMA

SPLICES AND RUN-ONS From

Real Good Grammar, Too

by Mamie Webb Hixon

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PowerPoint Created by April Turner Revised by Mamie Webb Hixon June

21, 2010

“SENTENCING”Just for Fun – A Little Grammar Humor!

RULES FOR BUILDING BETTER SENTENCES

Don’t write run-on sentences they are hard to read.

Do not separate two sentences with a comma, use a semicolon or a period instead.

And no sentence fragments.

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“SENTENCING”

Each of the word groups on the preceding slide contains a Sentence Error:A RUN-ON SENTENCEA COMMA SPLICEA FRAGMENT

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Sentence errors can derail the reader. I need to work on my grammar when I get

back from Europe, I will have to stop by the Writing Lab.

THE RUN-ON SENTENCE CAUSES MISREADING.

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WHAT IS THE WRITER SAYING? I need to work on my grammar; when I get

back from Europe, I will have to stop by the Writing Lab.

OR I need to work on my grammar when I get

back from Europe; I will have to stop by the Writing Lab.

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There are three major sentence errors.

RUN-ON SENTENCE: Two sentences running together without any punctuation separating them or any conjunction joining them.

COMMA SPLICE: Two sentences separated only by a comma.

FRAGMENT: An incomplete thought

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Is the word group below a run-on sentence?

The scandal broke after the teacher was charged with sexual harassment so the administration and the school board issued a statement to the media to dispel any rumors.

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THIS IS NOT A RUN-ON SENTENCE:

The scandal broke after the teacher was charged with sexual harassment so the administration and the school board issued a statement to the media to dispel any rumors.

IT IS A COMPOUND SENTENCE IN WHICH THE COMMA IS INCORRECTLY OMITTED BEFORE THE COORDINATING CONJUNCTION SO.

THE CONJUNCTION SO ACTUALLY JOINS THE TWO SENTENCES.

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REVISED

The scandal broke after the teacher was charged with sexual harassment, so the administration and the school board issued a statement to the media to dispel any rumors.

THIS IS A COMPOUND SENTENCE IN WHICH THE COMMA IS PLACED BEFORE THE COORDINATING CONJUNCTION SO.

THE CONJUNCTION SO ACTUALLY JOINS THE TWO SENTENCES.

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THIS IS A RUN-ON SENTENCE:

_______________ _________________

(sentence) (sentence) Two sentences (independent clauses) which

are not separated by any punctuation. Wearing a seatbelt is not just a good idea it’s

the law.

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A RUN-ON SENTENCE IS NOT . . .

A run-on sentence is not a sentence that goes on and on or a sentence that needs punctuation; a run-on sentence is two sentences not separated by a period, a semicolon, or a coordinating conjunction with a comma.

A run-on sentence is not necessarily a long sentence.

Walk with your feet dance with your heart.

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These are run-on sentences, some from The HBJ Workbook, 1992 Edition:

Liz is already fluent in English and Spanish in addition, she is learning Chinese.

Emily Dickinson wrote her poems in seclusion she never intended them for publication.

Rus works part time as a security guard he is helping to pay his tuition.

Stewart and Rosemary flew to Denver from there, they drove to the ski lodge in Aspen.

Cloning has aroused great interest as a scientific novelty however, its implications seem frightening to many.

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These are now comma splices, some from The HBJ Workbook, 1992 Edition:

Liz is already fluent in English and Spanish, in addition, she is learning Chinese.

Emily Dickinson wrote her poems in seclusion, she never intended them for publication.

Rus works part time as a security guard, he is helping to pay his tuition.

Stewart and Rosemary flew to Denver, from there, they drove to the ski lodge in Aspen.

Cloning has aroused great interest as a scientific novelty, however, its implications seem frightening to many.

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DOES THE SENTENCE BELOW CONTAIN A COMMA SPLICE?

No one voted in the election, so the White House was empty for four years.

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THIS IS NOT A COMMA SPLICE:

No one voted in the election, so the White House was empty for four years.

THE COMMA PRECEDING THE COORDINATING CONJUNCTION IS CORRECT.

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THIS IS NOT A COMMA SPLICE:

Students who are interested in doing an internship during spring semester, must complete the application process by November.

A comma splice is a comma specifically separating two sentences, not a superfluous comma or a comma that is in the wrong place in a sentence.  

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THIS IS A COMMA SPLICE:

“Government is not the solution to the problem, government is the problem.”

- President Ronald Reagan

ONLY A COMMA SEPARATES THE TWO SENTENCES.

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SENTENCE SENSE

When the subject of one sentence is repeated after a comma, very likely what follows the comma is a new sentence. Therefore, using only a comma to separate the two ideas is insufficient.

“Government is not the solution to the problem; government is the problem.”

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Are any of the commas below comma splices? Because Professor Martinez knew the subject very well,

she was chosen to give the introductory lecture. Even though he had written to the dean of the graduate

college and had submitted all the required forms in

triplicate, Martin was not accepted for admission. If you wish to be accepted into the program for medical

technicians, you must indicate an interest in studying science. 

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THESE SENTENCES DO NOT CONTAIN COMMA SPLICES: There is not a complete sentence on both sides of the comma; each comma is used correctly.

Because Professor Martinez knew the subject very well, she was chosen to give the introductory lecture.

Even though he had written to the dean of the graduate college and had submitted all the required forms in

triplicate, Martin was not accepted for admission. If you wish to be accepted into the program for medical

technicians, you must indicate an interest in studying science. 

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THIS IS A COMMA SPLICE:

_______________ , _________________

(sentence) (sentence) Two sentences (independent clauses)

separated only by a comma. I never enjoyed reading comic books when I

was a child, fantasy novels were always my favorite.

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These sentences contain comma splices, some from

The HBJ Workbook, 1992 Edition:

The divorce rate has risen sharply in recent years, many couples, consequently, now choose to live together before marrying.

Graduate students who are also teaching assistants (TA’s) carry a double burden, they must balance the needs of their students against the demands of their own studies.

Angie arrived on campus with mixed feelings, she was already homesick as well as excited.

Mrs. Webb listens to everyone's opinions, then she makes up her own mind.

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HOW TO CORRECT RUN-ONS AND COMMA SPLICES: Use a semicolon or period to separate

the two independent clauses/sentences. Wearing a seatbelt is not just a good idea;

it’s the law. I never enjoyed reading comic books when

I was a child; fantasy novels were always my favorite.

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WARNING! Using only a comma to separate two sentences changes a run-on into a comma splice. RUN-ON

Some television shows are no doubt worthless however, there are many programs that can truly be called educational.

COMMA SPLICESome television shows are no doubt worthless, however, there are many programs that can truly be called educational.

CORRECTED SENTENCE

Some television shows are no doubt worthless; however, there are many programs that can truly be called educational.

Some television shows are no doubt worthless. However, there are many programs that can truly be called educational.

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Run-ons and comma splices can derail the reader and cause misreading.

Time went by quickly, before she knew it, she was too old to find a good job.

CAREFULLY PROOFREAD AND EDIT

YOUR WRITING FOR RUN-ONS AND

FRAGMENTS.

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Punctuate your sentences to convey meaning.

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IS THIS WORD GROUP A FRAGMENT?

It is obsolete.

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THIS IS NOT A FRAGMENT:

It is obsolete. THIS GROUP OF WORDS HAS A SUBJECT,

A VERB, AND A COMPLETED THOUGHT.

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IS THE SECOND WORD GROUP BELOW A FRAGMENT?

Psychohistory is a relatively new type of study. It combines the insights of psychology with the data of history.

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THE SECOND GROUP OF WORDS IS NOT A FRAGMENT.

Psychohistory is a relatively new type of study. It combines the insights of psychology with the data of history.

THIS GROUP OF WORDS HAS A SUBJECT, A VERB, AND A COMPLETED THOUGHT.

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These are fragments.

The study showed that many employees eventually begin to neglect their duties. Merely because they become bored with their job.

The Color Purple is the story of the trials and tribulations of two sisters. Overcoming obstacles to discover themselves and to find each other after a long separation.

Since 1945, New York has been the undisputed center of the art world. A center that is livelier than those of prewar Europe.

In 1977, there were 200,000 foreign students attending colleges and universities in the United States; the largest number coming from the Middle East.

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CORRECTED FRAGMENTS

The study showed that many employees eventually begin to neglect their duties, merely because they become bored with their job.

The Color Purple is the story of the trials and tribulations of two sisters, overcoming obstacles to discover themselves and to find each other after a long separation.

Since 1945, New York has been the undisputed center of the art world, a center that is livelier than those of prewar Europe.

In 1977, there were 200,000 foreign students attending colleges and universities in the United States, the largest number coming from the Middle East.

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A FRAGMENT DOES NOT EXPRESS A COMPLETE THOUGHT:

B.B. King and Morgan Freeman know a lot about cotton fields. Both having grown up in the Mississippi Delta region. B.B. King from Indianola, Mississippi, and Morgan Freeman from Clarksdale, Mississippi.

The underlined portions are fragments.

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A FRAGMENT MAY CONTAIN A SUBJECT AND A VERB BUT IS NOT AN INDEPENDENT THOUGHT:

I noticed several students leaving the dormitory. As I walked across the street past the trolley.

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HOW TO CORRECT FRAGMENTS: Add words or connect the fragment to the

sentence from which it is disconnected. B.B. King and Morgan Freeman know a lot about

cotton fields, both having grown up in the Mississippi Delta region. B.B. King is from Indianola, Mississippi, and Morgan Freeman is from Clarksdale, Mississippi.

I noticed several students leaving the dormitory as I walked across the street past the trolley.

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The word groups below either contain fragments or are fragments themselves:

Jason stopped at the post office after class. The long-awaited care package from Louisiana having finally arrived. [No stand-alone verb in the second word group. Connect the second word group to the first with a comma.]

The candidate least willing to debate his opponents in public. [Incomplete thought – finish the sentence.]

Most writers use disinterested and uninterested interchangeably. Because they neither know nor understand the difference between the two words. [Though the “because” statement has a subject and a verb, it is not an independent sentence. Connect the two clauses without adding any punctuation.]

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INTENTIONAL FRAGMENTS

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I imagined that the rarely seen Miss Wilson would draw a more musically knowledgeable audience, one that would appreciate

the jazz legend. Not a chance.THE WRITER HAS INTENTIONALLY CONSTRUCTED THIS FRAGMENT TO SERVE A SYTLISTIC AND RHETORICAL

PURPOSE.

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WHAT IS THE SENTENCE ERROR BELOW? RUN-ON? COMMA SPLICE? FRAGMENT? CORRECT?

The twins are inseparable, neither of them will go anywhere without the other.

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WHAT IS THE SENTENCE ERROR BELOW? RUN-ON? COMMA SPLICE FRAGMENT? CORRECT?

The twins are inseparable, neither of them will go anywhere without the other.

CORRECTION: The twins are inseparable; neither of them will go anywhere without the other.

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Let’s Practice!!!

The rate of inflation is related to the rate of unemployment, it is impossible to influence one without influencing the other.

…unemployment; it is impossible… The ability to write complete sentences comes

with practice writing run-on sentences seems to occur naturally.

…with practice; writing run-on sentences…

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More Practice!!!

We were surprised to come home and find that the house had been burglarized. Even our toothpicks missing.

….had been burglarized, even our toothpicks missing.

Erring is human, and forgiving is divine. Although John’s errors were plentiful, since he wasn’t close to approaching divinity.

...errors were plentiful, he wasn’t close…

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BONUS ROUND! IS THE FOLLOWING WORD GROUP A RUN-

ON, FRAGMENT, COMMA SPLICE, OR CORRECT?

Verizon Wireless said Sunday that it would pay up to $90 million in refunds to 15 million cell phone customers who were wrongly charged for data sessions or Internet use, one of the largest-ever customer refunds by a telecommunications company. (NY Times, Oct. 3, 2010)

CORRECT

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