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<Run-ons
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A
Most students think they know what a run-on is based on their 6th grade English class. So when I ask students
whether the following is a run-on sentence, almost all students say yes:

! .... I took tlze SATs, and I scored a 36, and I applied to MIT, and I got in!
�·· \
Now this sentence may be long, wordy, and awkward, but the sentence is actually NOT a run-on sentence-­
it's grammatically correct. The reason it's correct is the use of the word and, wh.ich coMects all the parts
( ": together.

I took the SATs, I scored a 36, I applied to MIT, I got i11!

,'
·, . Now this IS a run-on sentence because several complete sentences are being mashed together with just com­
mas.
'' ,'
The basic form of a run-on is this:
..,
complete sentence , complete sentence
·,
,)
A run-on also occurs when there is nothing between the two complete sentences:

complete sentence complete sentence

There are four main ways to fix a run-on. Let's go over them one by one with a simple run-on example:
,
' ,,' He was hungry, he bought a Chipotle burrito. the comma CAN NOT join
COMMA SPLICE 2 full sentences without
' .· Two complete sentences connected only by a comma-de.finitely a run-on that needs to be fixed. FANBOYS

', 1. Use periods:

complete sentence. complete-sentence.

He was hungry. He bought a burrito.

.)

34
 THBCOLLEGEPANDA 1".

,.
2. Use a conjunction
' ' •. : •,. : .•'. ·,· 1,..•'. · ... '··..
. C<!O\pl�le •sep��!'9e, cqnj/'�P�ti..�Ol!,'P}�te � tence .
. • '
.....
He was hun&iJ, ' so he· �aught a bili-rito. ' .
Note that a comma1 if necessary, comes before the conjunction (we'll learn more about commas in a future ( °'

chapter). Most students have learned the acronym FANBOYS to memorize the list of conjunctions:

For And Nor But Or Yet So '

..'
Memorize this list because it's super important.
Now here's a really important point. if two sentences are connected by a word that's not from .the FANBOYS
list, IT'S STILL A RUN-ON. This is how the SAT tricks you:
Full Sentence Full Sentence
He was hungry, therefore, he bought a Chipotle burrito.
Conjunctive Adverb
This sentence is wrong because therefore is not a conjunction-it's not a member of FANBOYS. Instead, it's a
transition word pretending to be a conjw,ction. Other words the SAT might use include however. moreover, in
addition lo, 11evertlleless, and furthermore. These words cannot be used as conjunctions.
comma
Semi colon

1. Use Periods

2. Use Comma+ FANBOYS

3. Use the semicolon ; can come between to full sentences

4. Downgrade a sentence complete sentence; complete sentence.

Because he was hungry + Comma+ he bought a burrito.
Sub sentence: Dependent He was hungry; he bought a burrito.
Semicolons are the simplest way to edit run-ons, but in everyday speaking and writing, conjunctions are more
common because they better express how two connected sentences are related. The SAT will test you on both
ways. Note that this is also correct: Conjunctive Adverb
therefore = so
He was hungry; therefore, he bought a Chipotle burrito.

But this one is INCORRECT: 1. Keep Semi collón and remove AND
2. Change the semi colon ito a comma
He was hungry; and he bought a Chipotle burrito.

Do not use both a conjunction and a semicolon. Semicolons require complete sentences on either side. By
putting in a conjunction, the second part is no longer a complete sentence.

35
 while, though, although....
Start the sentence with Subodinating Conjuction because , since ........
when . after..................
If , unless.....................

I bought a book yesterday, it is amazing .

I bought a book yesterday, which is a maying who: somebody
which which: thing
I bought a book yesterday that is amazing.
that: thing
shouted
never puntuated when: Time
where: place

Relative Clause: relates what's after the comma to what came before

Comma splice

is wrong because it the noun before the comma

which

cancel the pronoun and Add +ing to the verb ( Paricipial Phrase)

modifying the whole sentence

Written in their copybooks, The SAT grammar note helps students get higher scores.

Students wrote it in their copybooks, The SAT grammar note helps students get highter score.
 ( EN)
delete the subjct and the pronound then add ( ED) to the verb ( past participial)

When the subject is the same in the two sentences , we make it One and join the two with and
we remove the COMMA and the double subject

one single Sentence

subordinating

modifier
 full stop
semi colon Sentence
wrong punctuation Sentence
, + FANBYS
;+ Conjunctive Adverb ,

double conjunction subordinative Relative ( who, which, that

Modifier

Comma splic
comma splice
Join the two verb by (And) when the subject is the same
relative pronoun
in both Sentences

Comma splice
the letter was dratfted be the leader of the rebels and eas typed .............
Comma splice

Joining two verb by (and )

 Subject+ verb ( main clause)

participial phrase

Comma splice
Run on : there must a comma before and

wrong punctuation

Comma splice F
A
need no comma before subject+ verb N Subject + verb
B
O
Y
s
The manager dabated the issue with the emplyees to get their feed back eventhough...............
Even though the managers debated the issue with the employee, they had alreadymade their decision

the subordinating cconjunction NEED no comma when it comes next

subordinating clause + Comma + Main clause

appositive
Comma splice
avoid ( being ) wordiness
wrong punctuation