Avoiding Run-ons and Comma Splices

Run-on: Susan pampers us too much everyone takes advantage of her.

• There are two complete ideas here: Susan pamper us too much.  Everyone takes advantage of her.

• A run-on incorrectly runs together two complete ideas without using a conjunction or punctuation.

Comma splice: Susan pampers us too much, everyone takes advantage of her.

• A comma splice incorrectly joins two complete ideas with a comma but no conjunction.

• Here are four ways to correct a run-on and a comma splice:

1. Write two separate sentences, making sure each is complete.

• Susan pampers us too much.  Everyone takes advantage of her.

2. Use a comma and a coordinating conjunction (and, but, for, nor, or, so, yet).

• Susan pampers us too much, so everyone takes advantage of her.

3. Use a subordinating conjunction (for example, although, because, if, since, or when).

• Because Susan pampers us too much, everyone takes advantage of her.

4. Use a semicolon to join two independent ideas without a conjunction; do not capitalize the first word after a semicolon. *Only use a semicolon if the two independent ideas relate to one another.

• Susan pampers us too much; everyone takes advantage of her.    

Resource:

Fawcett, Susan and Alvin Sandberg. Grassroots: The Writer's Workbook Fourth

      Edition. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1991.