

Then she watched television until her parents came home.Ī comma splice is a type of run-on sentence in which two independent clauses are connected by only a comma. Then she went home, and then she watched television until her parents came home.įixed: Hannah went to the mall with her friends. Run-on: Hannah went to the mall with her friends then she went home then she watched television until her parents came home.įixed: Hannah went to the mall with her friends. Run-on: Before we left for vacation we took our dog to the kennel.įixed: Before we left for vacation, we took our dog to the kennel. Fix run-on sentences in a few ways: add a comma before a coordinating conjunction or after an introductory clause, and use a semicolon or period between two independent clauses. They can also be corrected by making one clause dependent:įixed: Although Sam is my friend, Melanie is also my friend.įrequently, a run-on sentence simply needs to be punctuated correctly. The glue can be a comma and a coordinating conjunction, a semicolon, or a conjunctive adverb with a semicolon before it and a comma after it.)įixed: Sam is my friend, and Melanie is my friend.įixed: Sam is my friend Melanie is my friend.įixed: Sam is my friend also, Melanie is my friend. (Remember: Independent clauses need glue to hold them together. + Melanie is my friend.įixed: Sam is my friend. Sam is my friend and Melanie is my friend. Run-on sentences can be corrected by separating them into two sentences, by making a compound sentence, or by making a complex sentence. Summary: What are Run-on Sentences?ĭefine run-on sentence: the definition of a run-on sentence is two or more independent clauses improperly joined together.A run-on sentence (or fused sentence) has two or more clauses that are not correctly connected. That is, do they have a comma and a conjunction? Does a semicolon or period need to be added?Īsking these questions while thoroughly editing will help writers correct run-on sentences. Once identified, the writer should decide if those sentences are properly joined. In order to find them, a writer should identify his sentences with two independent clauses (subjects and verbs). This is usually because the writer tries to create a detailed sentence and accidentally creates a run-on sentence.įinding run-on sentences can be tricky. Run-on sentences occur frequently among novice writers.

SEICOLON FRAGMENT DEFINITION HOW TO
Finding a Run-on, How to Avoid Run-on Sentences Semi-colons should only be used when the two clauses are of equal weight, length, and importance.

Note that semicolons should not be used instead of periods.
SEICOLON FRAGMENT DEFINITION FULL
A sentence fragment does not include one or more of the necessary elements to make a full sentence, whereas a run-on sentence has too many elements in one sentence.ĭepending on the types of clauses that are incorrectly joined in run-on sentences, end punctuation could serve to separate the two clauses. An independent clause includes a subject and a verb or verb predicate.Ī sentence fragment and a run-on sentence are not the same. Just like the previous example, there is no conjunction or punctuation between these clauses this makes it a run-on sentence.Ī complete sentence exists when an independent clause is created.

Clause Two: Then we are going to the game.Here, there are two independent clauses joined by a comma.We are going to the game, then we are going to dinner.There is no conjunction or punctuation between these clauses this makes it a run-on sentence.Here, there are two independent clauses with no punctuation.I have to go to the store I need to buy milk.
