Comma Splices,

Run-ons, and Fragments

Outline
Comma splices
What are they and how to fix them
Run-on sentences
Similarities to comma splices and how to fix them
Sentence Fragments
What are they and how to fix them
Quiz
Comma Splices
When two independent clauses are connected with only a comma

Examples:
My family bakes cookies every night, I get to eat the leftover dough.
I didnt like the movie, it was way too long.
It is already 6 oclock, we cannot reach town before dark.
The sun is out, put on some sunscreen.
How to Fix Comma Splices
There are multiple ways of fixing a comma splice

Form two separate sentences with a period
My family bakes cookies every night. I get to eat the leftover dough.
Make one clause dependent on the other
I didnt like the movie because it was way too long.
Change the comma to a semicolon, dash, or colon
It is already 6 oclock; we cannot reach town before dark.
Insert a conjunction (and, but, for, nor, yet, or, so)
The sun is out, so put on some sunscreen.



Run-on Sentences
The same as a comma splice, but without the comma
Two independent clauses are connected without punctuation

Examples:
My family bakes cookies every night I get to eat the leftover dough.
I didnt like the movie it was way too long.
It is already 6 oclock we cannot reach town before dark.
The sun is out put on some sunscreen.

Note: sentence length has nothing to do with whether or not a sentence is a
run-on
How to Fix Run-on Sentences
The same ways you would fix a comma splice

Form two separate sentences with a period
My family bakes cookies every night. I get to eat the leftover dough.
Make one clause dependent on the other
I didnt like the movie because it was way too long.
Change the comma to a semicolon, dash, or colon
It is already 6 oclock; we cannot reach town before dark.
Insert a conjunction (and, but, for, nor, yet, or, so)
The sun is out, so put on some sunscreen.




Sentence Fragments
Also known as incomplete sentences
A sentence that does not express a complete thought or lacks grammatical
elements like a subject or a verb

Examples:
Snored loud enough that everyone in the class laughed. (no subject)
My ex girlfriend. (no verb)
On the table. (no subject or verb)
Whenever I sharpen my pencil. (subordinate clause)
How to Fix Sentence Fragments
Add a subject
Professor Cook snored loud enough that everyone in the class laughed.
Add a verb
My ex girlfriend turned out to be crazy.
Add a subject and verb
The book is on the table.
Add a dependent clause
Whenever I sharpen my pencil, I feel inspired to write a formal proposal.
Quiz
Carmen fell in love with San Diego she decided to change her last name.
Run-on sentence
Possible fixes:
Carmen fell in love with San Diego. She decided to change her last name.
Carmen fell in love with San Diego, so she decided to change her last name.
Because Carmen fell in love with San Diego, she decided to change her last name.


Quiz
My friend got married to a girl on Friday, they met just 3 months ago.
Comma splice
Possible fixes:
My friend got married to a girl on Friday. They met just 3 months ago.
My friend got married to a girl on Friday though they met just 3 months ago.
My friend got married to a girl on Friday; they met just 3 months ago.

Quiz
Is the cutest guy in the classroom.
Sentence fragment (no subject)
Possible fix:
Steve is the cutest guy in the classroom.

My cute little dog.
Sentence fragment (no verb)
Possible fix:
My cute little dog has rabies.