Avoiding Runon Sentences The length of a sentence has nothing to do with whether or not a sentence is considered a runon An overexuberant runoffatthemouth 400word gorilla of a sentence can be structurally fine A ID: 251360
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Avoiding Run-on SentencesSlide2
Avoiding Run-on Sentences
The length of a sentence has nothing to do with whether or not a sentence is considered a run-on. An over-exuberant, run-off-at-the-mouth, 400-word gorilla of a sentence can be structurally fine. A
run-on sentence is one in which two clauses have been connected incorrectly. (If you’d like, click on the word “clauses” to review that concept.)Slide3
Avoiding Run-on Sentences
Let’s think of an independent clause as an independently operated train headed west . . .
getting connected to another train headed east.
Some students think they can study for an important exam by “cramming” all
night
they are probably wrong.
Nothing but grief will result from coupling these train clauses incorrectly!
For example. . . .Slide4
Avoiding Run-on Sentences
Some students think they can study for an important exam by “cramming” all night
, they are probably wrong.
This is an example of the dreaded
COMMA SPLICE
!
A comma splice connects two independent clauses with
only
a comma.
There are several ways to fix a comma splice. . . .Slide5
Avoiding Run-on Sentences
1. We can insert a period and start a new sentence.
Some students think they can study for an important exam by “cramming” all night
. T
hey
are probably wrong.
2. We can insert a comma plus a coordinating conjunction.
Some students think they can study for an important exam by “cramming” all night
, but
they are probably wrong.3. We can use a semicolon.
Some students think they can study for an important exam by “cramming” all night;
they are probably wrong.Slide6
Who remembers the acronym for coordinating conjunctions?
For
AndNorBut OrYetSoSlide7
Avoiding Run-on Sentences
Three Run-on Traps
There are three situations in which run-on sentences are apt to happen:
1.
When a pronoun in the second
clause refers to a noun in the first clause:
The President’s popularity has plummeted, she apparently underestimated the opposition.
2.
When a suggestion or directive occurs in the second clause:
You will be responsible for this material on the final exam, study it thoroughly now.3.
When two clauses are connected by a transitional expression: Many people think protectionism can halt rising prices, however, the opposite is actually true.Slide8
Avoiding Run-on Sentences
Freeing Trapped Run-ons
1.
The President’s popularity has plummeted
, and
she
apparently underestimated the opposition.
2. You will be responsible for this material on the final exam. Study it thoroughly now.
3. Many people think protectionism can halt rising prices
; however, the opposite is actually true.Slide9
Avoiding Run-on Sentences
Now you’ll never again write a run-on sentence!Slide10
This PowerPoint presentation was created by
Charles Darling, PhD
Professor of English and Webmaster
Capital Community College
Hartford, Connecticut
copyright November 1999Slide11
Examples
TV weather maps have various symbols, for example, a big apostrophe means drizzle.
What is the problem and how do we fix it?Slide12
Comma splice! Yuck!
TV weather maps have various symbols. For example, a big apostrophe means drizzle.Slide13
Example
First the horse trotted then he broke into a full gallop.
What is the error and how do we fix it?Slide14
Run-on! YUCK!
First the horse trotted; then he ran into a full gallop.
OrFirst the horse trotted. Then he ran into a full gallop.Slide15
Exit slip response:
1. Write down the sentence in your piece that is most improved by today’s work.
2. Write down how you changed it to make it better.