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The two clauses provide contrasting information. In this last example, once again, we have two independent clauses. Some people were highly educated professionals, others were from small villages in underdeveloped countries.
The opposite is true of stronger types of stainless steel: they tend to be more susceptible to rust. Since the two clauses are very closely related, and the second clarifies the information provided in the first, the best solution is to insert a colon between the two clauses (although a semicolon is grammatically correct as well): “The opposite is true of stronger types of stainless steel” and “they tend to be more susceptible to rust” are both independent clauses. This second sentence is a run-on as well.
The opposite is true of stronger types of stainless steel they tend to be more susceptible to rust. Most of the hours I’ve earned toward my associate’s degree do not transfer however, I do have at least some hours the university will accept. If this feels like too hard of a stop between ideas, you can change the comma into a semicolon instead: However, I do have at least some hours the university will accept. Most of the hours I’ve earned toward my associate’s degree do not transfer. The first is to turn the comma before “however” into a period: There are two easy fixes to this problem. The adverbial conjunction “however” is being treated like a coordinating conjunction (remember, FANBOYS). Most of the hours I’ve earned toward my associate’s degree do not transfer, however, I do have at least some hours the university will accept. Let’s take a look at a few other run-on sentences and their revisions: Jill has been waiting for years for this doctor’s appointment, making it very frustrating to have it postponed. It’s very frustrating to have it postponed. Jill has been waiting for years for this doctor’s appointment. Changing to a period and separating into two sentences. Jill has been waiting for years for this doctor’s appointment, so it’s very frustrating to have it postponed. Jill has been waiting for years for this doctor’s appointment: it’s very frustrating to have it postponed. Jill has been waiting for years for this doctor’s appointment it’s very frustrating to have it postponed. Now let’s look at how we can revise the comma splice using the techniques learned above: Jill has been waiting for years for this doctor’s appointment, it’s very frustrating to have it postponed. Here is an example of a sentence with a comma splice: Rewrite the sentence entirely so the run-on sentence is no longer a problem. Change the comma to a period and separate the two independent clauses into two separate sentences. Add a coordinating conjunction (FANBOYS) after the comma in the comma splice. Change the comma in the comma splice to a colon, but only if the two clauses are very closely related and the second one seems to be explaining or clarifying the first. Change the comma in the comma splice to a semicolon (or add a semicolon between the independent clauses). There are five ways you can fix a run-on sentence or comma splice: This also means they have to stand on their own they can’t run together without correct punctuation. Are the parts independent clauses, or are they dependent clauses or phrases? Remember, only independent clauses can stand on their own. When you write and revise, carefully look at each part of every sentence. For example, look at this quote from The Great Gatsby:īefore you can fix a run-on sentence, you’ll need to identify the problem. Not every long sentence is a run-on sentence. Sometimes, books do not have the most complete information it is a good idea then to look for articles in specialized periodicals.Ī run-on sentence should not just be defined as a sentence that goes on and on. Often, choosing a topic for a paper is the hardest part. Each clause should be separated from another with a period, a semicolon, or a comma and a coordinating conjunction (remember, FANBOYS): Sometimes, books do not have the most complete information, it is a good idea then to look for articles in specialized periodicals.Īll three of these have two independent clauses.
Often, choosing a topic for a paper is the hardest part it’s a lot easier after that.Let’s look at a few examples of run-on sentences: Another type of run-on that you’ve probably heard of is the comma splice, in which two independent clauses are joined by a comma without a coordinating conjunction ( and, or, but, etc.). Often, in a run-on sentence, the independent clauses are simply joined without any punctuation or a coordinating conjunction. Run-on sentences occur when two or more independent clauses are improperly joined.