run together sentences a/k/a run-on sentences what to do when your sentence is just too long!

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Run Together Sentences A/K/A Run-on Sentences What to do when your sentence is JUST TOO LONG!

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Page 1: Run Together Sentences A/K/A Run-on Sentences What to do when your sentence is JUST TOO LONG!

Run Together SentencesA/K/A

Run-on Sentences

What to do when your sentence is

JUST TOO LONG!

Page 2: Run Together Sentences A/K/A Run-on Sentences What to do when your sentence is JUST TOO LONG!

Definition of a Sentence

A sentence is a phrase that includes a

SUBJECT and a VERB.

Sentences communicate at least one complete thought.

If you put more than one complete thought in a sentence,

you run the risk of creating a “Run-Together Sentence.”

Page 3: Run Together Sentences A/K/A Run-on Sentences What to do when your sentence is JUST TOO LONG!

So what makes a Run-Together Sentence?

An “RTS” can be one of two things:

1. FUSED SENTENCE A Fused Sentence is a sentence with more than onecomplete thought, but no punctuation between them.

Grammar is a difficult subject I think I will get it eventually.

2. COMMA SPLICEA Comma Splice is a sentence with more than onecomplete thought and a comma that separates them, butthe comma is not strong enough.

Grammar is a difficult subject, I think I will get it eventually.

*Hint- Adding a joining word after the comma will make it strong enough. More on that later.

Page 4: Run Together Sentences A/K/A Run-on Sentences What to do when your sentence is JUST TOO LONG!

4 methods for correcting RTSs

1. Period + Capital Letter (Two sentences)

2. Comma + Joining Word (Coordination)

3. Semicolon

4. Dependent clause + Comma + Independent Clause (Subordination)

Page 5: Run Together Sentences A/K/A Run-on Sentences What to do when your sentence is JUST TOO LONG!

Period + Capital Letter

Separate two complete thoughts by making

them into two separate sentences.

Earnest Hemingway was a great author he wrote beautiful little novels.

Oregon summers are lovely the winters are very rainy.

Riding a bike is a lot of fun its good exercise.

Page 6: Run Together Sentences A/K/A Run-on Sentences What to do when your sentence is JUST TOO LONG!

Connect two complete thoughts with a Comma and a Joining Word

F for The most common joining words are:

A and and, but, or, so

N nor

B but

O or

Y yet

S so

His feet hurt from the 3 mile hike, ____ his stomach was growling.

I remembered the hot chocolate, ____ I forgot the marshmallows.

We could go to the movies, ____ we could go to the concert.

I left my rain jacket at my friend’s house yesterday, ____ I had a wet walk

in the rain this morning.

Comma + Joining Word

Page 7: Run Together Sentences A/K/A Run-on Sentences What to do when your sentence is JUST TOO LONG!

*One more note on Comma+Joining word

What do the different joining words mean?

And = addition (Items in a list)

But = contrast (shows differences)

Or = alternatives (choices)

So = cause and effect (reasons)

Page 8: Run Together Sentences A/K/A Run-on Sentences What to do when your sentence is JUST TOO LONG!

Semicolon

Use a semicolon between two complete

thoughts. A semicolon is stronger than a

comma, but weaker than a period.NOTE!

NO joining word is needed. A semicolon is

just like a period, except you do not capitalize.

It rained for an entire week parts of downtown were flooded.

I work eight hours a day in a windowless factory it’s nice to go outside after work.

The audience went crazy the musicians felt good about their performance.

Page 9: Run Together Sentences A/K/A Run-on Sentences What to do when your sentence is JUST TOO LONG!

SUBORDINATIONSubordination means you have a dependent clause and anindependent clause separated by a comma.

A DEPENDENT CLAUSE starts with a SUBORDINATORSuch as: after, although, as, because, before, even though,If, since, unless, until, when, and while.

A dependent clause by itself is a fragment (incomplete sentence) because it“depends” on the independent clause to finish the thought.

The INDEPENDENT CLAUSE finishes the thought. It is calledindependent because on its own, it is a complete sentence.

Before you can get a driver’s license, you have to pass a driving test.When I finish my studies at MHCC, I plan to transfer to PSU.Because it’s raining so hard, I don’t think we will be able to go camping thisweekend.

Page 10: Run Together Sentences A/K/A Run-on Sentences What to do when your sentence is JUST TOO LONG!

How to check your paper for RTSs:

1) Read your sentence aloud and listen for a break between two complete thoughts. Your voice will probably drop and pause at the break.

2) Read your entire paper backwards from the last sentence to the first. This will help you hear and see each complete thought.

3) Circle all the commas in your paper. Ask yourself if the clause before the comma is a complete thought. How about the clause after the comma? If they are both complete thoughts, perhaps they should be separate sentences.

*Remember- a complete thought has a subject and a verb.

4) Look for words that can lead to run-together sentences:I, you, he, she, it, we, they, there, this, that, next, and then.Hemingway has great characters I really like Santiago from The Old Man and the Sea.

Hemingway has great characters they resemble real people.

Page 11: Run Together Sentences A/K/A Run-on Sentences What to do when your sentence is JUST TOO LONG!

RTS in paragraphsCan you find Run-Together Sentences in a paragraph and fix them?

Martha Johnson just received an inheritance from her grandmother she has several choices of how to spend the money. First, she could buy a car she won’t have to ride the bus. Another option is to get her own apartment if she lived alone she would have a quiet and peaceful study environment. Martha could also take a trip to Hawaii. She has always dreamed of going to Hawaii, the inheritance is her chance to fulfill that dream.