avoiding run-ons many students think a run-on sentence is a sentence that is particularly long, or...

Avoiding Run-Avoiding Run-onsons

Many students think Many students think a run-on sentence a run-on sentence

is a sentence is a sentence that is particularly that is particularly

long, or “runs on and long, or “runs on and on,” on,”

like this one:like this one:

We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice,

insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common

defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the

Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and

establish this Constitution for

the United States of America.

WRONGWRONG!Sometimes Sometimes

long long sentences are sentences are

just fine.just fine.

Also, a run-on has Also, a run-on has nothing to do with nothing to do with sentence length.sentence length.

The preamble to the Constitution is no way

a run-on!

In fact, even short In fact, even short sentences, sentences,

if not punctuated properly, if not punctuated properly, can be run-ons.can be run-ons.

I love powerpointsthey are so awesome!

RUN-ON !

I demand an I demand an explanation!explanation!

To understand what a To understand what a run-on is, you have to run-on is, you have to

understand understand INDEPENDENT CLAUSESINDEPENDENT CLAUSES

Independence is groovy !

A CLAUSEA CLAUSEhas a has a SUBJECT SUBJECT and a and a

VERBVERB..

An INDEPENDENT An INDEPENDENT CLAUSECLAUSE

(or simple sentence)(or simple sentence)has a has a SUBJECTSUBJECT, a , a VERBVERB, ,

and expresses a and expresses a complete thought!complete thought!

A subjectA subject can be can be a noun a noun (person, place, or thing) or (person, place, or thing) or a pronoun (that takes the a pronoun (that takes the place place of a noun).of a noun).

A verb reflects the subject’s A verb reflects the subject’s action (action verb) or state action (action verb) or state of being (being verb).of being (being verb).

Another name for an Another name for an INDEPENDENT CLAUSE is INDEPENDENT CLAUSE is

a a SIMPLE SENTENCE.SIMPLE SENTENCE.

Note these two simple Note these two simple sentences:sentences:

I love powerpoint I love powerpoint presentations.presentations.

They are so awesome.They are so awesome.

Note these two simple Note these two simple sentences. sentences.

subjectsubject verbverb

II lovelove powerpoint powerpoint presentations.presentations.


TheyThey areare so awesome. so awesome.

Now we’ll “try” joining them by Now we’ll “try” joining them by deleting that first period and deleting that first period and making that capital “T” making that capital “T” lowercase.lowercase.

I love powerpoint I love powerpoint presentations.presentations.

They are so awesome.They are so awesome.

Now we’ll “try” joining them by Now we’ll “try” joining them by deleting that first period and deleting that first period and making that capital “T” making that capital “T” lowercase.lowercase.

I love powerpoint I love powerpoint presentationspresentations

they are so awesome.they are so awesome.

I love powerpoint I love powerpoint presentationspresentations

they are so awesome.they are so awesome.

OH, NO! A OH, NO! A RUN-ON!RUN-ON!

Run-on sentences occur when two Run-on sentences occur when two independent clauses (simple independent clauses (simple sentences) are “run together” sentences) are “run together” improperly. improperly.


I love powerpoint I love powerpoint presentationspresentationsthey are so awesome. they are so awesome. subjectsubject verbverb RUN-RUN-

ON ON

Trying to connect them with a Trying to connect them with a comma doesn’t solve the problem. comma doesn’t solve the problem.


I love powerpoint I love powerpoint

presentationspresentations,,they are so awesome. they are so awesome. subjectsubject verbverb You only

create something called a comma splice!

So what So what can we do?can we do?

Uh…like maybe try fixing it?

FIXING A RUN-0NThere are FIVE different ways to fix a run-on.

#1 - A PERIODSeparate the run-on into two simple sentences with a period.

I love powerpoint presentations. They are so awesome.

Didn’t we already do that?

Shut up and listen!

#2 - A SEMICOLONJoin the two simple sentences with a semicolon.

I love powerpoint presentations; they are so awesome.

#3 - A SEMICOLON + A TRANSITION Join the two simple sentences with a semicolon + a transition. (Note the comma after the transition.)

I love powerpoint presentations; in fact, they are awesome.

#3-A SEMICOLON + A TRANSITION (Continued)

Other transitions are furthermore, however, on the other hand, in addition, likewise, therefore, for example, in fact, indeed, thus, then, and consequently.

#4 - A COMMA AND A COORDINATING CONJUCTION Join the sentences with one of these 7 conjunctions and a comma: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, and so.

I love powerpoint presentations, and this one is particularly awesome.

#4-A COMMA AND A COORDINATING CONJUCTION (Continued)These are sometimes referred to as the FANBOYS.

F o r A n d N o r B u t O r Y e t S o

Fanboys, schmanboys! Can we get to

number #5 already?

#5 - A SUBORDINATING CONJUNCTION Transform one independent clause into a dependent clause with a subordinating

conjunction.

I love powerpoint presentations because they are so awesome.

#5-SUBORDINATING CONJUNCTIONS (Continued)

Also, with subordinating conjunctions, you can sometimes put the dependent clause first,

followed by a comma. Because powerpoint presentations are so awesome, I love them.

#5-SUBORDINATING CONJUNCTIONS (Continued)

Other subordinating conjunctions include because, although, when, if since, while, before, unless, and until.

Note the difference !Independent clause: Powerpoints are so awesome.

Dependent clause:because powerpoints are so awesome

Let’s ReviewLet’s Review !!

Run-onsI love powerpoint presentations they are so awesome.I love powerpoint presentations, they are so awesome.

Fixes#1. I love powerpoint presentations. They are so awesome.#2. I love powerpoint presentations; they are so awesome#3. I love powerpoint presentations; in fact, they are awesome.#4. I love powerpoint presentations, and this one is particularly awesome. #5. I love powerpoint presentations because they are so awesome.

Now, let’s just try this with a few more sentences!

How would you fix this run-on?

The Liberty Bell is a symbol of American independence, historians cannot agree on who or what caused the bell’s famous crack.

FOR DISCUSSION

Run-onThe Liberty Bell is a symbol of American independence, historians cannot agree on who or what caused the bell’s famous crack.

Fixes#1. A period.#2. A semicolon.#3. A semicolon and a transition (followed by a comma).#4. A comma and a coordinating conjunction (FANBOY). #5. A subordinate conjunction.

ANSWERS

Run-onThe Liberty Bell is a symbol of American independence, historians cannot agree on who or what caused the bell’s famous crack.

Fixes#1. independence. Historians#2. independence; historians#3. independence; however, historians#4. independence, yet historians#5. independence although historians


Benjamin Franklin wanted to learn if lightning was an electrical phenomenon, he flew a kite in a thunderstorm.

FOR DISCUSSION

Run-onBenjamin Franklin wanted to learn if lightning was an electrical phenomenon, he flew a kite in a thunderstorm.


ANSWERS

Run-onBenjamin Franklin wanted to learn if lightning was an electrical phenomenon, he flew a kite in a thunderstorm.

Fixes#1. phenomenon. He#2. phenomenon; he#3. phenomenon; therefore, he#4. phenomenon, so he #5. Because Benjamin Franklin wanted to learn if lightning was an electrical phenomenon, he flew a kite in a thunderstorm.


Betsy Ross was a seamstress who sewed the first American flag, in addition, she sewed ruffles on George Washington’s shirt cuffs.


Betsy Ross was a seamstress who sewed the first American flag, in addition, she sewed ruffles on George Washington’s shirt cuffs.

Ruffles! No way!

That was the style, dude!

FOR DISCUSSION

Run-onBetsy Ross was a seamstress who sewed the first American flag, in addition, she sewed ruffles on George Washington’s shirt cuffs.


ANSWERS

Run-onBetsy Ross was a seamstress who sewed the first American flag, in addition, she sewed ruffles on George Washington’s shirt cuffs.

Fixes#1. flag. In addition, she#2. flag; in addition, she#3. flag; in addition, she (“in addition” is a transition)#4. flag, and she#5. No answer possible. The clauses are equal so it is impossible to make one subordinate.

We’re almost We’re almost donedone !!

A WARNING!Under no circumstances try “correcting” run-ons by doing the following:

Using a coordinating conjunction (the FANBOYS) with a semicolon instead of a comma.WRONG!I like slide shows; but I’m starting to get bored.

Use a coordinating conjunction (the FANBOYS) with a COMMA.CORRECTI like slide shows, but I’m starting to get bored.

Use a coordinating conjunction (the FANBOYS) with COMMA.EVEN MORE CORRECTI like slide shows, so I could sit here forever.

Use a semicolon with a subordinating conjunction instead of a transition word.WRONGMy cell phone is ringing; although I don’t think anybody can hear it.

Use a semicolon with transition words.CORRECTMy cell phone is ringing; however, I don’t think anybody can hear it.

Yes, we can!

THE END

avoiding run-ons many students think a run-on sentence is a sentence that is particularly long, or...

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