Instructional Materials for Craig White's Literature Courses
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Run-On Sentences a.k.a. "comma splices" What are they? How to make them right? see also
Comma, semicolon, or period
after "however" or "therefore" |
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Calling a sentence "run-on" may suggest only a sentence that is too long for a reader to keep up with: the sentence "runs on" when it should stop and finish.
In fact, sentence length has nothing to do with making a sentence run-on; even a very short sentence may be run-on. Instead, a punctuation error leading to a grammatically incorrect sentence is usually responsible for creating a run-on sentence.
"Run-on" sentence describes a sentence in which two or more independent clauses (i.e., could-be complete sentences) are joined with inadequate punctuation or a conjunction. That is, one sentence is "run on" top of another sentence. A run-on sentence can be as short as four words—for instance, "I drive she walks" is a run-on sentence. Asingle sentence can extend almost indefinitely as long as it has proper grammar and punctuation.
A run-on sentence may occur as one of two more specific errors: the "comma splice" and the "fused sentence."
Run-on sentence as "Comma Splice"
Comma Splice = two independent clauses joined with a comma but without an accompanying coordinating conjunction. (See also "Commas & the Comma Rule")
Basic problem: A comma is too weak to separate or join two independent clauses.
Examples of Comma Splices:
It is nearly half past five, we can't reach town
before dark.
John studied hard for the test, he failed it anyway.
Solutions: Add an appropriate conjunction, replace the comma with a semicolon or period, or change one of the clauses from an independent to a dependent clause.
Incorrect Example 1: It is nearly half past five, we can't reach town before dark.
Corrected with conjunction: It is nearly half past five, so we can't reach town before dark.
Corrected with semicolon: It is nearly half past five; we can't reach town before dark.
Corrected with period: It is nearly half past five. We can't reach town before dark.
Change an independent clause to a dependent clause: If it's nearly half past five, we can't reach town before dark.
Incorrect Example 2: John studied hard for the test, he failed it anyway.
Corrected with conjunction: John studied hard for the test, but he failed it anyway.
Corrected with semicolon: John studied hard for the test; he failed it anyway.
Corrected with period: John studied hard for the test. He failed it anyway.
Change an independent clause to a dependent clause: Even though John studied hard for the test, he failed it anyway.
Many comma splices result from treating "however," "therefore," and similar adverbs as conjunctions or adverbial conjunctions, when in fact they are only adverbs.
(See Comma, semicolon, or period after "however" or "therefore")
Incorrect: He studied very hard, however, he didn't pass the exam. (Or, He studied very hard, however he didn't pass the exam.)
Corrected with semicolon: He studied very hard; however, he didn't pass the exam.
Corrected with period: He studied very hard. However, he didn't pass the exam.
Corrected with a true conjunction: He studied very hard, but he didn't pass the exam.
Change an independent clause to a dependent clause: Though he studied very hard, he didn't pass the exam.
Run-on sentence as "Fused Sentence"
Fused sentence = two independent clauses joined or separated by no conjunction or punctuation.
Basic problem: Two sentences but only one period!
Incorrect examples of Fused Sentences (both from an insurance flyer titled "Delivering Great Rates to the Seabrook Area")
Give me a call I can prepare quotes for auto and
home insurance in about 15 minutes on the phone.
I serve the entire Houston area but lately it has
been all about Seabrook low rates maybe it's time you joined in all the savings.
Solutions: Between the two independent clauses or complete sentences, add strong punctuation stronger than a comma--i.e., a period, a semicolon, or possibly a dash or exclamation point. Also you might add a conjunction with proper punctuation following "the Comma Rule," or replace the comma with a semicolon or period, or change one of the clauses from an independent to a dependent clause.
Incorrect example 1: Give me a call I can prepare quotes for auto and home insurance in about 15 minutes on the phone.
Corrected with exclamation point: Give me a call! I can prepare quotes for auto and home insurance in about 15 minutes on the phone.
Corrected with period: Give me a call. I can prepare quotes for auto and home insurance in about 15 minutes on the phone.
Corrected with a true conjunction: Give me a call,a nd I can prepare quotes for auto and home insurance in about 15 minutes on the phone.
Change an independent clause to a dependent clause: If you'll give me a call, I can prepare quotes for auto and home insurance in about 15 minutes on the phone.
Incorrect example 2: I serve the entire Houston area but lately it has been all about Seabrook low rates maybe it's time you joined in all the savings.
Corrected with semicolon: I serve the entire Houston area but lately it has been all about Seabrook low rates; maybe it's time you joined in all the savings.
Corrected with period: I serve the entire Houston area but lately it has been all about Seabrook low rates. Maybe it's time you joined in all the savings.
Corrected with a true conjunction: I serve the entire Houston area but lately it has been all about Seabrook low rates, so maybe it's time you joined in all the savings.
Examples from recent Advanced Writing essays:
At one time states carried out executions by way of firing squads, when that method fell out of favor, authorities moved on to public and private hangings.
The problem with a black market [for marijuana] is that it is illegal, there are no regulations, and no tax revenue being made.
Consider a fire department or police force that has been diversified to reflect the surrounding community, the result is never ending racial wrangles over promotions, class-action bias lawsuits, reverse-discrimination cases, acrimony over quotas and affirmative action, and the proliferation of racially exclusive professional organizations . . . .
Sources: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Run-on_sentence, http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/runons.htm, http://www.niu.edu/writingtutorial/punctuation/runons01.html, http://grammartips.homestead.com/fusedsentence.html, http://www.chompchomp.com/terms/fusedsentence.htm.
http://www.niu.edu/writingtutorial/punctuation/runons01.html