RUN-ON SENTENCE

AND SENTENCE
FRAGMENTS
Run-On Sentences

• A run-on sentence occurs when two or

more independent clauses (also known
as complete sentences) are connected
improperly.
• Run-on sentences can be divided into two
types.
1. The first occurs when a writer puts no mark
of punctuation and no coordinating
conjunction between independent clauses.
2. The second is called a comma splice, which
occurs when two or more independent
clauses are joined by just a comma and no
coordinating conjunction.
Example of a run-on sentence:

• The flowers are beautiful they brighten the room.

(Incorrect)

Example of a comma splice:

• The flowers are beautiful, they brighten the room.

(Incorrect)
Examples of correct alternatives:

• The flowers are beautiful. They brighten the room.

• The flowers are beautiful; they brighten the room.
• The flowers are beautiful, and they brighten the room.
• The flowers are beautiful because they brighten the
room.
NOTE!!!

• A run-on sentence is not defined by its

length! The fact that a sentence is very long
does not automatically make it a run-on
sentence. As you will see, the sentence
structure and use of punctuation determine
whether a sentence is a run-on.
• In order to better understand run-on
sentences and comma splices, it is
important to review the basics of writing a
grammatically correct simple sentence:
NOTE!!!

• A simple sentence is made up of only one independent clause. An

independent clause is a group of words that contains a subject and
a predicate and forms a complete thought when standing alone.
The subject refers to someone or something (the subject contains
at least one noun or pronoun). The predicate refers to what the
subject does or is (the predicate contains the verb or verbs). Both
the subject and predicate can contain additional descriptive
elements, such as adverbs, adjectives, prepositions, or other
modifying phrases, but in its most basic form the subject is the
part of the sentence that contains the noun, and the predicate
contains the verb.
• A sentence can be complete and correct with one
basic independent clause made up of one subject
plus its corresponding predicate. To demonstrate
the basic structure of a simple sentence, find the
noun that forms the subject and divide it from
the verb.
 Subject Predicate Sentence

I am. I am.

The man studied. The man studied.

A frog jumped. A frog jumped.

Lola sings. Lola sings.

• By dividing the noun and verb, we can add
modifiers to a simple sentence and still see
the two basic parts, the subject and the
predicate.
Subject Predicate

The man studied.

The kind man studied hard.

The kind man at the library studied hard for the test on Friday.
• When looking at the structure of an independent
clause, it is helpful to think of all elements of the
subject separately from all elements of the
predicate. Together the subject and predicate
form the two basic and separate parts of each
clause.
 Subject Predicate

The kind man and his wife studied hard for the test and read a book.

The man, his wife, and their child studied hard, read books, and ate dinner.
• If the independent clause forms a complete
thought, a period at the end demonstrates that
the sentence is complete. The period means STOP.
The sentence has ended, and a new sentence will
begin.
• Run-ons and comma splices occur when more than
one subject/predicate pair exists in the sentence.
• When one subject/predicate pair is followed by
an additional subject/predicate pair within one
sentence (forming separate independent clauses),
they need to be separated (or joined) according
to very specific rules of punctuation and
grammar.
EXAMPLE:

• The kind man studied hard; his wife read a book.

• The kind man studied hard. His wife read a book.
• The kind man studied, and his wife read a book.
• The kind man studied while his wife read a book.
NOTE!!!

Ways to Use a Semicolon

Semicolons come in handy in a few different scenarios.

• 1. Use a semicolon to connect related independent clauses. An

independent clause is a sentence that communicates a complete
thought and makes sense on its own. To connect two independent
clauses that express related ideas, place the semicolon between
the first independent clause and the second independent clause—no
conjunction necessary. (Conjunctions are connective words like
"and," "but," and "or.”)
• 2. Use a semicolon with a conjunctive adverb or
transitional phrase. Conjunctive adverbs include
words like "moreover," "nevertheless," "however,"
"therefore," and "finally." Transitional phrases or
expressions include "such as," "in fact," and "as a
result." Semicolons can precede conjunctive
adverbs and transitional expressions so long as
they're joining two independent clauses.
• 3. Use semicolons to separate items in a list. This
comes in handy when the list items are lengthy or
contain internal punctuation. Sometimes this use of a
semicolon is referred to as a "super-comma" for its
powerful ability to separate sentences. When using
semicolons like this, be mindful of capitalization.
Unless the first word of the following clause is a
proper noun, you can keep the words following
semicolons lowercase.
 Examples of Sentences With Semicolons

• The semicolon has many practical uses. If you're wondering whether or

not your writing needs a semicolon, consider the following examples.

• 1. To connect related independent clauses:

Example: "I ordered another coffee; caffeine always puts me in a
better mood.“

• 2. In place of a conjunction between independent clauses:

Example: "I need a quiet place to sit and think; I need fresh air to clear
my mind."
• 3. With a conjunctive adverb or transitional phrase:
• Example:"The employees were encouraged to eat their lunch in the break
room; however, John ate at his desk to catch up on some work."
• "Tyler finished all the math problems in thirty minutes; as a result, he got to
leave class early.“

• 4. To separate items in a list that contain commas:

• "We traveled to New York, New York; Paris, France; Vienna, Austria; Venice,
Italy; and Berlin, Germany."
• "The menu featured cocktails with tequila, vodka, or whiskey; entrees
centered around meat, seafood, or vegetables; and two desserts, which we
could order with or without ice cream.”
Colon vs. Semicolon: What’s the Difference?

• Although there are rare cases where either can be used,

colons and semicolons differ significantly.

• Colons help introduce new information. The primary use

of the colon is to introduce new information such as a
quote, list, or example. Colons signal that something is
coming, while semicolons connect related ideas.
• Semicolons connect two complete sentences. Semicolons can
connect two related, independent clauses. Colons typically
connect dependent clauses (incomplete sentences), though there
are rare cases where a colon can join two independent clauses for
the purpose of emphasizing the second clause.
• Colons have many practical applications. You may use a colon to
set off a book’s subtitle (Outliers: The Story of Success), express a
numerical ratio (1:1), and communicate a time (4:30 p.m.).
Semicolons do not have these practical uses.
• Without the correct separation, the two
independent clauses written together form a run-
on sentence. Once you can identify a run-on
sentence by its incorrect structure, it is not hard
to find a way to correct it.
First independent clause Second independent clause

Subject Predicate Subject Predicate

The kind man studied hard his wife read a book.

• The table below demonstrates the four
correct options. When two independent
clauses appear in a sentence, try to imagine
a middle column in which only four
possibilities exist to join the two clauses:
 First independent Second independent
clause clause

Subject Predicate 4 CORRECT Subject Predicate

OPTIONS

The kind man studied hard . (period) His wife read a book.

, and, but
The studied hard , or, for, nor his wife read a book.
, so, yet
kind man (comma plus a coordinating
conjunction)

The kind man studied hard ; (semicolon) read a book.

his wife

The studied hard While, after, as his wife read a

kind man because . . . book.
(examples of subordinating
conjunctions - no comma required)
• Notice that joining the independent clauses
by a comma alone is NOT a choice. When
two independent clauses are joined by only
a comma, this error is called a comma
splice.
SUMMARY:

• 1. An independent clause contains one subject/predicate pair and

expresses a complete thought.

• Music makes my life worth living.

Subject Predicate
Music makes my life worth living.
• 2. A simple sentence is made up of only one
independent clause:

Example:

Music makes my life worth living.

• 3. A run-on sentence is made up of two or more independent clauses that are
not joined correctly or which should be made into separate sentences. A run-
on sentence is defined by its grammatical structure, not its length.

• Incorrect: My favorite band is in town they are performing now.

• Correct: My favorite band is in town. They are performing now.

• Correct: My favorite band is in town, and they are performing now.
• My favorite band is in town; they are performing now.
• My favorite band is in town where they are performing now.
• 4. A comma splice is the incorrect use of a comma to join two independent
clauses.

• Incorrect: I love classical music, it makes me feel joyful. (incorrect)

• Correct: I love classical music because it makes me feel joyful.

• Correct: I love classical music; it makes me feel joyful.
• I love classical music, and it makes me feel joyful.
• I love classical music. It makes me feel joyful.
• 5. A compound sentence contains two or more independent clauses
that are correctly joined by a comma plus a coordinating
conjunction or by a semicolon:

Example:

• Music means a lot to me, and certain songs bring wonderful

memories to mind.
First independent Second independent clause
clause

Subject Predicate Comma and coordinating Subject Predicate

conjunction

Music means a , and certain songs bring

lot to me wonderful
memories to
mind.
Music means a lot to me; certain songs bring wonderful memories to mind.

First independent clause Second independent clause

Subject Predicate Subject Predicate

Semicolon

Music means a lot to certain songs bring wonderful

me ; memories to
mind.
6. A comma plus a coordinating conjunction can connect independent clauses correctly.
There are seven coordinating conjunctions (sometimes remembered by the acronym
“FANBOYS"):

F-or
A-nd
N-or
B-ut
O-r
Y-et
S-o

• for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so

• 7. A complex sentence contains one independent clause and one or
more dependent clauses. The dependent clause begins with a
subordinating conjunction:

Example:

• I always think of summer whenever they play that song.

First independent Second independent
clause clause

Subordinating Subject Predicate

Subject Predicate conjunction

always think of whenever they

I Play that song.
summer
• 8. A subordinating conjunction connects a dependent clause to an
independent clause. The dependent clause cannot stand alone; it
requires attachment to an independent clause in order to express
the complete meaning of the sentence. The following are examples
of some of the most common subordinating conjunctions:

• after, although, as, as if, because, before, even though, if, in order
that, rather than, since, so that, than, that, though, unless, until,
when, whenever, where, wherever, whether, while
 SENTENCE FRAGMENTS

• A sentence fragment is an incomplete sentence.

• Some fragments are incomplete because they lack either a subject
or a verb, or both.
• The fragments that most students have trouble with, however, are
dependent clauses—they have a subject and a verb, so they look
like complete sentences, but they don’t express a complete
thought.
• Because their car was in the shop (…What did they do?)

• After the rain stops (…What then?)

• When you finally take the test (…What will happen?)

• Since you asked (…Will you get the answer?)

• If you want to go with me (…What should you do?)

First, you need to know that subordinating conjunctions do three things:

• join two sentences together

• make one of the sentences dependent on the
other for a complete thought (make one a
dependent clause)
• indicate a logical relationship
Second, you need to recognize the subordinators when you
see them. Here is a list of common subordinating
conjunctions and the relationships they indicate:

• Cause / Effect: because, since, so that

• Comparison / Contrast: although, even though, though,
whereas, while
• Place & Manner: how, however, where, wherever
• Possibility / Conditions: if, whether, unless
• Relation: that, which, who
• Time: after, as, before, since, when, whenever, while,
until
• Third, you need to know that the subordinator (and the whole
dependent clause) doesn’t have to be at the beginning of the
sentence. The dependent clause and the independent clause can
switch places, but the whole clause moves as one big chunk. Look at
how these clauses switched places in the sentence:

Example:
• Because their car was in the shop, they took the bus.
• They took the bus because their car was in the shop.
• Finally, you need to know that every dependent clause
needs to be attached to an independent clause
(remember, the independent clause can stand on its own)

• They took the bus. (Independent clause. So far, all is well!)

• Because their car was in the shop. (Dependent clause all

by itself. Uh oh! Fragment!)

• They took the bus because their car was in the shop.
• Sally likes soccer she doesn’t like running.
• I woke up I ate breakfast.