{"id":760,"date":"2017-06-26T13:48:45","date_gmt":"2017-06-26T13:48:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/suny-fmcc-english1\/?post_type=chapter&p=760"},"modified":"2024-02-21T13:54:55","modified_gmt":"2024-02-21T13:54:55","slug":"run-ons-and-comma-splices","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/suny-fmcc-english1v2\/chapter\/run-ons-and-comma-splices\/","title":{"raw":"Run-Ons and Comma Splices","rendered":"Run-Ons and Comma Splices"},"content":{"raw":"

GRAMMAR OFFENDER: The Run-on & Comma Splice<\/strong><\/h2>\r\nNow that you know the difference between a fragment and a sentence you are ready to tackle another common writing error: the run-on and comma splice. Remember, unlike the fragment, a sentence has a subject (the doer or actor) and a predicate (the action) allowing it to stand on its own as a complete thought. Fragments seem to end abruptly, and leave you wanting to ask something like \u201c...and then what?\u201d <\/strong>\r\n

What Is a Run-on Sentence?<\/h3>\r\nA run-on sentence, also known as a fused sentence,\u00a0is a sentence that goes on and on and needs to be broken up.\u00a0<\/span>Run-on sentences occur when\u00a0two or more independent clauses\u00a0are improperly joined. They\u00a0<\/span>might just seem to be the type of sentence that goes on and on without a clear point.\u00a0<\/span>\r\n\r\nRun-ons may have nothing between them, or they may have a coordinating conjunction (and, or, nor, but, for, so, yet) but not the comma that needs to accompany the coordinating conjunction when separating two independent clauses.\u00a0<\/span>The technical grammatical definition of a run-on sentence is one that fuses, or \"runs together,\" two or more independent clauses (clauses that express a complete thought and could stand on their own as full sentences) without punctuation to separate them.\u00a0<\/span>\r\n

Common Causes of\u00a0Run-On Sentences<\/h3>\r\nWe often write run-on sentences because we sense that the sentences involved are closely related and dividing them with a period just doesn't seem right. We may also write them because the parts seem to short too need any division, like in \"She loves skiing but he doesn't.\" However, \"She loves skiing\" and \"he doesn't\" are both independent clauses, so they need to be divided by a comma and a coordinating conjunction\u2014not just a coordinating conjunction by itself.\r\n\r\nAnother common cause of run-on sentences is mistaking\u00a0adverbial conjunctions for\u00a0coordinating conjunctions. For example if we were to write, \"She loved skiing, however he didn't,\" we would have produced a comma splice. The correct sentence would be \"She loved skiing; however, he didn't.\"\r\n

Fixing\u00a0Run-On Sentences<\/h3>\r\nBefore you can fix a run-on sentence, you'll need to identify the problem. When you write, carefully look at each part of every\u00a0sentence. Are the parts independent\u00a0clauses,\u00a0or are they dependent clauses or\u00a0phrases? Remember, only independent clauses can stand on their own. This also means they have to stand on their own; they can't run together without correct punctuation.\r\n\r\nLet's look at a few examples of run-on sentences:\r\n
    \r\n \t
  • Often,\u00a0choosing a topic for a paper is the hardest part\u00a0it's a lot easier after that.<\/li>\r\n \t
  • Sometimes, books do not have the most complete information it is a good idea then to look for articles in specialized periodicals.<\/li>\r\n \t
  • She loves skiing but he doesn't.<\/li>\r\n \t
  • The opposite is true of stronger types of stainless steel they tend to be more susceptible to rust.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\nAll three of these have two independent clauses. Each clause should be separated from another with a period, a semicolon, a comma and a coordinating conjunction, or a dependent clause should be created (the revisions are italicized):\r\n
      \r\n \t
    • Often,\u00a0choosing a topic for a paper is the hardest part. I<\/em>t's a lot easier after that.<\/li>\r\n \t
    • Sometimes, books do not have the most complete information;<\/em> it is a good idea then to look for articles in specialized periodicals.<\/li>\r\n \t
    • She loves skiing, but<\/em> he doesn't<\/li>\r\n \t
    • The opposite is true of stronger types of stainless steel because<\/em> they tend to be more susceptible to rust.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\nLet's take a look at this run-on:\r\n
        \r\n \t
      • Most of the hours I've earned toward my associate's degree do not transfer however I do have at least some hours the University will accept.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\nHere is the application of the four fixes to this problem noted above. with the revisions italicized:\r\n
          \r\n \t
        1. The first is to place a period before\u00a0however<\/em>\u00a0and capitalize it. (Most of the hours I've earned toward my associate's degree do not transfer. However<\/em>, I do have at least some hours the University will accept.)<\/li>\r\n \t
        2. If the above fix this feels like too\u00a0hard of a stop between ideas, you can insert a semicolon instead and keep the lowercase. (Most of the hours I've earned toward my associate's degree do not transfer; h<\/em>owever, I do have at least some hours the University will accept.)<\/li>\r\n \t
        3. Another fix is to create a dependent clause to lead into or follow an independent clause. (While<\/em> most of the hours I've earned toward my associate's degree do not transfer,\u00a0however<\/del> I do have at least some hours the University will accept.<\/li>\r\n \t
        4. The other fix is to insert a comma after transfer<\/em> and use but<\/em> (a coordinating conjunction) instead of however<\/em>. (Most of the hours I've earned toward my associate's degree do not transfer,\u00a0however<\/del>\u00a0but I do have at least some hours the University will accept.)<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n

          What Is a Comma Splice?<\/h3>\r\nOne type of run-on that you've probably heard of is the\u00a0<\/span>comma splice<\/i>, in which two independent clauses\u00a0are joined by a comma without a coordinating conjunction (<\/span>and<\/i>,\u00a0<\/span>or<\/i>,\u00a0<\/span>but<\/i>, etc.).\u00a0<\/span>A comma splice is similar to a run-on in that it joins two independent clauses, but it differs in that the clauses are joined by a comma. Interestingly, a comma splice is a sentence error\u2014not a comma error, which has to do with punctuation.\r\n\r\nExamples of comma spliced sentences\r\n
            \r\n \t
          • Every day, millions of children go to daycare with millions of other kids, there is no guarantee that none of them are harboring infectious conditions.<\/li>\r\n \t
          • Many daycares have strict rules about sick children needing to stay away until they are no longer infectious, enforcing those rules can be very difficult.<\/li>\r\n \t
          • Daycare providers often undergo extreme pressure to accept a sick child \"just this once,\" the parent has no other care options and cannot miss work.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n

            In Review: Common Fixes for Run-ons and Comma Splices<\/strong><\/h3>\r\nOnce you find a run-on or comma splice and notice where the two independent clauses \"collide\" or are \u201cspliced,\u201d you can then decide how best to separate the clauses, which are basically the same as with run-ons:\r\n
              \r\n \t
            1. You can make two complete sentences by inserting a period. This is the strongest level of separation.<\/li>\r\n \t
            2. You can use a semicolon between the two clauses if they are of equal importance; this allows your reader to consider the points together.<\/li>\r\n \t
            3. You can use a semicolon with a transition word to indicate a specific relation between the two clauses; however, use this sparingly.<\/li>\r\n \t
            4. You can use a coordinating conjunction following the comma, and this also will indicate a relationship.<\/li>\r\n \t
            5. Or, you can add a word to one clause to make it dependent.<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\nIn the following examples of fixed run-on and comma spliced sentences from above, notice how they have been punctuated in the following examples:\r\n
                \r\n \t
              • Every day, millions of children go to daycare with millions of other kids. There is no guarantee that none of them are harboring infectious conditions.<\/li>\r\n \t
              • Many daycares have strict rules about sick children needing to stay away until they are no longer infectious; however, enforcing those rules can be very difficult.<\/li>\r\n \t
              • Many daycares have strict rules about sick children needing to stay away until they are no longer infectious, but enforcing those rules can be very difficult.<\/li>\r\n \t
              • Daycare providers often undergo extreme pressure to accept a sick child \"just this once\" because the parent has no other care options and cannot miss work.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n

                Writer\u2019s Tip\r\n<\/strong><\/h3>\r\nIf you struggle with run-ons read your paper out loud. \u00a0The run-on sentences will trip you up: you'll want to pause or otherwise come to some sort of end when you hit the end of an independent clause, but a run-on, with its lack of punctuation, doesn't signal you to do that.\r\n\r\nIf you struggle with comma splices, find all the commas in your paper, look at the text before and after the comma, and decide whether they can stand alone\u2014do they both contain a subject and a verb to make a complete thought? If so, then you have found the comma splice!","rendered":"

                GRAMMAR OFFENDER: The Run-on & Comma Splice<\/strong><\/h2>\n

                Now that you know the difference between a fragment and a sentence you are ready to tackle another common writing error: the run-on and comma splice. Remember, unlike the fragment, a sentence has a subject (the doer or actor) and a predicate (the action) allowing it to stand on its own as a complete thought. Fragments seem to end abruptly, and leave you wanting to ask something like \u201c…and then what?\u201d <\/strong><\/p>\n

                What Is a Run-on Sentence?<\/h3>\n

                A run-on sentence, also known as a fused sentence,\u00a0is a sentence that goes on and on and needs to be broken up.\u00a0<\/span>Run-on sentences occur when\u00a0two or more independent clauses\u00a0are improperly joined. They\u00a0<\/span>might just seem to be the type of sentence that goes on and on without a clear point.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

                Run-ons may have nothing between them, or they may have a coordinating conjunction (and, or, nor, but, for, so, yet) but not the comma that needs to accompany the coordinating conjunction when separating two independent clauses.\u00a0<\/span>The technical grammatical definition of a run-on sentence is one that fuses, or “runs together,” two or more independent clauses (clauses that express a complete thought and could stand on their own as full sentences) without punctuation to separate them.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

                Common Causes of\u00a0Run-On Sentences<\/h3>\n

                We often write run-on sentences because we sense that the sentences involved are closely related and dividing them with a period just doesn’t seem right. We may also write them because the parts seem to short too need any division, like in “She loves skiing but he doesn’t.” However, “She loves skiing” and “he doesn’t” are both independent clauses, so they need to be divided by a comma and a coordinating conjunction\u2014not just a coordinating conjunction by itself.<\/p>\n

                Another common cause of run-on sentences is mistaking\u00a0adverbial conjunctions for\u00a0coordinating conjunctions. For example if we were to write, “She loved skiing, however he didn’t,” we would have produced a comma splice. The correct sentence would be “She loved skiing; however, he didn’t.”<\/p>\n

                Fixing\u00a0Run-On Sentences<\/h3>\n

                Before you can fix a run-on sentence, you’ll need to identify the problem. When you write, carefully look at each part of every\u00a0sentence. Are the parts independent\u00a0clauses,\u00a0or are they dependent clauses or\u00a0phrases? Remember, only independent clauses can stand on their own. This also means they have to stand on their own; they can’t run together without correct punctuation.<\/p>\n

                Let’s look at a few examples of run-on sentences:<\/p>\n