Improving sentence structure by addressing run-ons and comma splices is crucial for making writing more coherent and impactful. This approach is beneficial for both students and professionals aiming to refine their writing skills. The following quick guide serves as an excellent resource, offering practical tips and strategies for correction. If you've reviewed this quick guide, and are just looking for examples, please scroll down.
A run-on sentence is when two or more simple sentences run together without correct punctuation.
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Example |
Joe plays varsity football he is the team's starting quarterback. |
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Solutions |
Break it into two sentences: Joe plays varsity football. He is the team's starting quarterback. Separate the sentences with a semicolon: Joe plays varsity football; he is the team's starting quarterback. Use a connecting word (and, or, yet, so, for, nor, but) to form a compound sentence: Joe plays varsity football, and he is the team's starting quarterback. |
A particular type of run-on sentence is called a comma splice. A comma splice occurs when a comma is used alone between two sentences.
A comma is strong enough to hold two small things together, such as phrases, but it must be paired with a conjunction to hold sentences together.
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Example |
Joe plays varsity football; he is the team's starting quarterback. A comma is not strong enough to hold these two sentences together; a different type of punctuation is needed. |
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Solutions |
Break it into two sentences: Joe plays varsity football. He is the team's starting quarterback. Separate the sentences with a semicolon: Joe plays varsity football; he is the team's starting quarterback. Use a connecting word (and, or, yet, so, for, nor, but) to form a compound sentence: Joe plays varsity football and is the team's starting quarterback. |
