Run on sentences
Objectives and assessment
Objectives:
• What is a run on sentence?
• What is a fragment?
• How is comma splice connected to
the run on sentence?
Assessment
• Participation 5/5
• Pair /group work -5/5
• Smile and good behavior + 2
points☺ Bonus ☺
 Homework ( useful links)
• https://www.bristol.ac.uk/arts/exercises/grammar/grammar_tutorial/page_
77.htm
• http://guidetogrammar.org/grammar/quizzes/runons_quiz.htm
• https://academicguides.waldenu.edu/writingcenter/grammar/runonsentenc
es
• https://www.bucks.edu/media/bcccmedialibrary/pdf/AvoidingRun-OnsCo
mmaSplicesFragmentsJuly08.pdf
 Is everything ok with each sentence? ☺
• a) Tim rushed out of the house; he desperately needed another pint of
milk.
• b) Tim rushed out of the house he desperately needed another pint of
milk.
• c) Tim rushed out of the house because he desperately needed another
pint of milk.
• d) Tim rushed out of the house, as he desperately needed another pint of
milk.
 Answer
• a) Well done. The semicolon here avoids a run-on sentence.
• b) Correct. This is a run-on sentence. There is nothing to separate the two
ideas.
• c) Correct. The conjunction 'because' links the two ideas in this sentence.
• d) Correct. The conjunction 'as' links the two ideas in this sentence.
 What is a run on sentence ?
• A run-on sentence occurs when two or more independent clauses (also known as complete
sentences) are connected improperly.

• Example: I love to write papers I would write one every day if I had the time.
• There are two complete sentences in the above example:

• Sentence 1: I love to write papers.

•
• Sentence 2: I would write one every day if I had the time.
 How is comma splice connected with run on
sentence?
• One common type of run-on sentence is a comma splice. A comma splice occurs
when two independent clauses are joined with just a comma.

• Example of a comma splice: Participants could leave the study at any time, they
needed to indicate their preference.
• Sentence 1: Participants could leave the study at any time.
•
• Sentence 2: They needed to indicate their preference.
 What is a mistake here?
• Example of a comma splice:
• The results of the study were inconclusive, therefore more
research needs to be done on the topic.

• Revision: The results of the study were inconclusive; therefore, more research
needs to be done on the topic.
 Quick quiz ☺☺
Do not make me angry. Do your best☺
 a) Greece is a fantastic country it has lovely people
and great food.
b)Despite a long flight, arriving in Athens is always
a good feeling.
c) She gave me a withering stare I was really scared.
d) There is nothing better for a cold than a hot
whisky and a big box of chocolates.
 Answer
• a) Well done. This is definitely a run-on sentence.
• b) Correct. This is not a run-on sentence. The comma sets off the initial part
of the sentence.
• c) This is definitely a run-on sentence. It needs some punctuation between
the two ideas.
• d) Correct. Although this is a long sentence, it does not contain more than
one idea.
• a) The chest contained large amounts of gold, rubies,
saphires and other precious stones.
• b) She ran out of the room the shadows in the corner had
scared her.
• c) I will never fly again it is far too polluting.
• d) She always recycles her bottles they are collected twice a
month.
 Answers
• a) Well done. Although this is a long sentence, it contains only one idea and is
not a run-on sentence.
• b) Correct. This is a run-on sentence.
• c) Correct. This is a run-on sentence.
• d) Correct. This is a run-on sentence.
• a) I hate kippers the smell puts me off.
• b) Bill rushed to his mate's house there was cold beer
in the fridge.
• c) She never walks anywhere she is really lazy.
• d) Tim loves jelly strawberry is his favourite flavour.
 Answers
• a) Correct. This is a run-on sentence.
• b) Correct. This is a run-on sentence.
• c) Correct. This is a run-on sentence.
• d) Correct. This is a run-on sentence.
• a) The meal was a huge success despite his lack of
skill in the kitchen.
• b) The meal was a disaster he is useless in the
kitchen.
• c) Given his ineptitude with a food mixer, the
meal was a surprising success.
• d) I really enjoyed the smoked kippers that he had
prepared the night before.
• Answers
• a) Well done. This is not a run-on sentence. Although it is long, the two
ideas are separated by the conjunction 'despite'.
• b) Correct. Although short, this sentence contains two ideas that need to
be separated.
• c) Correct. The initial part of the sentence is set off with a comma.
• d) Well done. This is not a run-on sentence. The two ideas in the
sentence are separated by the relative pronoun 'that'.
How should we correct run on sentences?
• Use a period.
• Use a semicolon.
• Use a comma and a coordinating conjunction.
• Use a subordinating conjunction.
 See the examples, are they correct?
• Revision example: I love to write papers. I would write one every day if I had
the time.
• Revision example: I love to write papers; I would write one every day if I had
the time.
• Revision example: I love to write papers, and I would write one every day if I
had the time.
• Example: Because I love to write papers, I would write one every day if I had
the time.
 What is a sentence fragment?
• Example of a fragment: Shows no improvement in any of the vital signs.

• The sentence above is a fragment since there is no subject (Who shows no

improvement?). Fragments can be corrected by identifying the missing
element and including it.

• Revision: The patient shows no improvement in any of the vital signs.

• Sentence Fragments
• A sentence fragment is a string of words that does not form a
complete sentence; there is a necessary component of a
complete sentence missing. This missing component may
be a subject (usually a noun) or a predicate (verb or verb
phrase) and/or when the sentence does not express a
complete idea.
 Practice !

• Here is an example of a fragment with a missing

predicate, or action:

• Example of a fragment: The doctors, who were using

peer-reviewed research articles that contributed to the
body of knowledge in their fields, which was obstetrics.
 Explanation and answer
• Notice here that although the sentence is quite long, it still contains no action
(What are the doctors doing?). Once identified, the sentence can be corrected
easily.

• Revision: The doctors, who were using peer-reviewed research

articles that contributed to the body of knowledge in their field,
improved their knowledge of obstetrics.
Very brief practice ☺ I swear☺
 Run on sentence (correct them)
• Examples:
• It was raining Naomi could not find her umbrella.
(Fused)
• It was raining, Naomi could not find her umbrella.
(Comma Splice)
 Different strategies
• It was raining. Naomi could not find her umbrella.
• It was raining, and Naomi could not find her umbrella.
• It was raining; Naomi could not find her umbrella.
• Though it was raining, Naomi could not find her umbrella.
 Avoiding Fragment (correct them)

• The dog loved his new toys. Especially the ones that squeaked.
• The dog loved his new toys, especially the ones that squeaked.
• I cannot wait until President’s Day. Finally, a day off.
• I cannot wait until President’s Day. Finally, we have a day off
• Maggie remembered her childhood. Her mother making pancakes for dinner
in the small apartment
• Maggie remembered her childhood. Her mother made pancakes in the small
apartment.
• Maggie remembered her childhood, especially her mother making pancakes
for dinner in the small apartment.
Essays for option☺ but mandatory to write ☺

• Pretend you woke up one day and there were no rules. People could suddenly
do whatever they wanted! Explain what the world would be like. Use your
imagination!

• If you had the opportunity to bring any person — past or present, fictional
or nonfictional — to a place that is special to you (your hometown or
country, a favourite location, etc.), who would you bring and why? Tell us
what you would share with that person