Comma Splices and Sentence Runons

1
Comma Splices and Sentence Run-ons

• Two major sentence errors
• that devalue writing.

2
How do you avoid the splice?

• To join two independent clauses, you must use a
  coordinator.
• The coordinators are for, and, but, or, nor, yet,
  and so.
• To separate two independent clauses, you must use
  a form of end-stop punctuation
• the period . or
• the semicolon

Is this a good one to pass on?
3
How do we correct splices?

• If you have two independent clauses with nothing
  between them but a comma, you have failed to join
  them with a coordinator or to separate them with
  end-stop punctuation.
• Thus, you have a comma splice, which is a form of
  run-on sentence.
• Here is an example of a comma splice, followed by
  several different ways of correcting it

Arent these prices running a little ahead of
themselves?
4
How do we correct splices?

• Comma Splice  
• I got up late, I didn't have time for breakfast.
• Corrections
• I got up late. I didn't have time for breakfast.
• I got up late I didn't have time for breakfast.
• I got up late, so I didn't have time for
  breakfast.

Isnt this really taking the terrorist
issue close to home?
5
Are splices and run-ons similar?

• A comma splice contains two main clauses
  illegally joined by a comma.
• The problem looks like this main clause ,
  main clause .
• Comma splices and run-ons tell your reader that
  you cannot control the construction of a
  sentence, the most basic building block of a
  piece of writing.

Can businesses really make matters this confused?
6
Are splices and run-ons similar?

• A run-on sentence, on the other hand, contains
  two main clauses illegally run together with no
  punctuation whatsoever.
• The problem looks like this main clause Ø
  main clause .
• Finding comma splices and run-ons is the first
  step to fixing the problem.

Just what does this sign mean?
7
Can you find splices and run-ons?

• Identify each sentence as Splice, Run-on, or OK
• __1. Yesterday morning, the motor of Davids car
  flooded, it didnt start.
• __2. He arrived at college a little late his math
  class had already started.
• __3. The teacher had picked up the quizzes David
  missed the points.
• __4. Ignoring the teachers careless attitude,
  David bravely asked for the quiz.
• __5. The professor told David that he was too
  late, the quiz time was already over.

8
You can find splices and run-ons!

• Identify each sentence as Splice, Run-on, or OK
• S 1. Yesterday morning, the motor of Davids car
  flooded, it didnt start.
• R 2. He arrived at college a little late_ his
  math class had already started.
• C 3. The teacher had picked up the quizzes David
  missed the points.
• C 4. Ignoring the teachers careless attitude,
  David bravely asked for the quiz.
• S 5. The professor told David that he was too
  late, the quiz time was already over.

9
Can you find splices and run-ons?

• Identify each sentence as Splice, Run-on, or OK
• __1. Thats my friend Alfredo, the guy over there
  in the red shirt.
• __2. He bought it at the mall it was on
  half-price sale there after Christmas.
• __3. Fernando is going to pass biology, he might
  not make it through history.
• __4. He likes science a lot more than he likes
  history that is just the way he is.
• __5. New computers operate faster than old ones,
  so were buying one.

10
You can find splices and run-ons!

• Identify each sentence as Splice, Run-on, or OK
• S 1. Thats my friend Alfredo, the guy over there
  in the red shirt.
• R 2. He bought it at the mall it was on
  half-price sale there after Christmas.
• C 3. Fernando is going to pass biology he might
  not make it through history.
• R 4. He likes science a lot more than he likes
  history that is just the way he is.
• C 5. New computers operate faster than old ones,
  so were buying one.

11
Can you find splices and run-ons?

• Identify each sentence as Splice, Run-on, or OK
• __1. We drove to Florida, it is the state with
  lots of hurricanes lately.
• __2. It was nice at first, then the wind started
  to speed up.
• __3. Finally, the police forced us to leave the
  interstate it was just too windy.
• __4. We found refuge in a nearby motel the staff
  there treated us very well.
• __5. In fact, the manager gave us a half-off
  discount he understood our situation perfectly.

12
You can find splices and run-ons!

• Identify each sentence as Splice, Run-on, or OK
• S 1. We drove to Florida, it is the state with
  lots of hurricanes lately.
• S 2. It was nice at first, then the wind started
  to speed up.
• R 3. Finally, the police forced us to leave the
  interstate it was just too windy.
• R 4. We found refuge in a nearby motel the staff
  there treated us very well.
• C 5. In fact, the manager gave us a half-off
  discount he understood our situation perfectly.

13
Can you find splices and run-ons?

• Identify each sentence as Splice, Run-on, or OK
• __1. Although our SUV has big tires, the water on
  the road was pretty deep.
• __2. We stayed in a roadside motel, after all, it
  was no time to keep traveling.
• __3. In the morning, there was a tree on one of
  the cars in the parking lot it looked like the
  car was totaled out.
• __4. No one knew what to do then we saw a wrecker
  coming by on the highway.
• __5. We waved the wrecker over, the driver
  charged up 100 to tow the car to a garage.

14
You can find splices and run-ons!

• Identify each sentence as Splice, Run-on, or OK
• C 1. Although our SUV has big tires, the water on
  the road was pretty deep.
• S 2. We stayed in a roadside motel, after all, it
  was no time to keep traveling.
• R 3. In the morning, there was a tree on one of
  the cars in the parking lot it looked like the
  car was totaled out.
• R 4. No one knew what to do then we saw a wrecker
  coming by on the highway.
• S 5. We waved the wrecker over, the driver
  charged up 100 to tow the car to a garage.

15
Can you find splices and run-ons?

• Identify each sentence as Splice, Run-on, or OK
• __1. My apartment is too small, I have no room
  for my treadmill and exercise bike.
• __2. I'm exhausted, however, I will go to school
  anyway.
• __3. Tom opened his freezer, then he noticed that
  two cans of beer had exploded.
• __4. The liquid was all over everything, it was a
  ridiculous mess.
• __5. He called his girlfriend, but she didnt
  want to help him out.

16
You can find splices and run-ons!

• Identify each sentence as Splice, Run-on, or OK
• S 1. My apartment is too small, I have no room
  for my treadmill and exercise bike.
• S 2. I'm exhausted, however, I will go to school
  anyway.
• C 3. Tom opened his freezer then he noticed that
  two cans of beer had exploded.
• R 4. The liquid was all over everything it was a
  ridiculous mess.
• C 5. He called his girlfriend, but she didnt
  want to help him out.

17
Can you find splices and run-ons?

• Identify each sentence as Splice, Run-on, or OK
• __1. Although I understand the definition, comma
  splices still confuse me.
• __2. A comma splice occurs when two complete
  sentences are joined only by a comma, I need to
  remember that rule.
• __3. It's means "it is" or "it has," its' is
  always incorrect.
• __4. There are lots of other punctuation rules,
  but these are really important ones.
• __5. In subsequent lessons, we will look at other
  forms of writing errors.

18
You can find splices and run-ons!

• Identify each sentence as Splice, Run-on, or OK
• C 1. Although I understand the definition, comma
  splices still confuse me.
• S 2. A comma splice occurs when two complete
  sentences are joined only by a comma, I need to
  remember that rule.
• S 3. It's means "it is" or "it has," its' is
  always incorrect.
• C 4. There are lots of other punctuation rules,
  but these are really important ones.
• C 5. In subsequent lessons, we will look at other
  forms of writing errors.

19
Review of splices and run-ons.

• If you have two independent clauses with nothing
  between them but a comma, you have failed to join
  them with a coordinator or to separate them with
  end-stop punctuation.
• Thus, you have a comma splice, which is a form of
  run-on sentence.
• Here is an example of a comma splice, followed by
  several different ways of correcting it

• Comma Splice  
• I got up late, I didn't have time for breakfast.
• Run-on Sentence
• I got up late then I didnt have breakfast.
• Corrections
• I got up late. I didn't have time for breakfast.
• I got up late I didn't have time for breakfast.
• I got up late, so I didn't have time for
  breakfast.