Curriculum

Course I: Writing Correctly

Module I: Punctuation

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- Commas -

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- Semicolons -

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- Colons -

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- Dashes -

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Apostrophes

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- Punctuation Review -

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Module II: Sentence Problems

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- Fragments -

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- Run-on Sentences -

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- Subject-Verb Agreement -

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- Dangling Modifiers -

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- Parallel Construction -

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- Sentence Problems Review -

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Module III: Words That Are Similar and Often Confused

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Final Course I Review

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Text lesson

Run-on Sentences

While fragments lack the required elements to create complete sentences, run-on sentences actually have too many elements. A run-on sentence is two complete sentences connected by only a comma. Following are two examples of run-on sentences.

“Nonaccrual” loans increased by 14% of total loan volume, this exceeds the district standard of 4%.

Strategic planning has improved, the board and management should work on planning that will prevent continuing weaknesses in key operating areas.

In each instance, the material to the left of the comma is an independent clause (i.e., a complete sentence), and the material to the right of the comma is an independent clause. Using a comma to connect two independent clauses is grammatically incorrect and confuses the reader.

There are several ways to correct a run-on sentence. Options include:

– Changing the comma to a semicolon.
– Changing the comma to a period.
– Adding a coordinating conjunction.
– Adding a transition word.

In the following presentation, we will review examples of run-on sentences and correct them using the methods above.

Presentation

Carefully review the presentation below. Core details on the above content are explained in further detail, along with relevant examples.

Access video version of the presentation. (Optional, voiced-over version of the above presentation)

PRESENTATION TRANSCRIPT

If a run-on sentence has two independent clauses that are closely related, then it makes sense to correct the issue by adding a semicolon. Look again at this example:

“Nonaccrual” loans increased by 14% of total loan volume, this exceeds the district standard of 4%.

Using a semicolon, the corrected version looks like this:

“Nonaccrual” loans increased by 14% of total loan volume; this exceeds the district standard of 4%.

Another option is to replace the comma with a period and capitalize the beginning of the second clause. Here is the same run-on sentence again, but with a period instead of a semicolon.

“Nonaccrual” loans increased by 14% of total loan volume. This exceeds the district standard of 4%.

Another option is to add a coordinating conjunction between the two clauses. The seven coordinating conjunctions are: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, and so. You can easily recall the coordinating conjunctions using the acronym FANBOYS.

Here is our earlier example of a run-on sentence: Look at how we’ve corrected this example using the conjunction but:

ORIGINAL SENTENCE: Strategic planning has improved, the board and management should work on planning that will prevent continuing weaknesses in key operating areas.

CORRECTED: Strategic planning has improved, but the board and management should work on planning that will prevent continuing weaknesses in key operating areas.

Note that there is a comma after the first independent clause. This comma is always required before coordinating conjunctions when two independent clauses are joined.

For our last revision option, you can make one of the clauses a dependent clause by introducing it with a conjunctive adverb like because or although. See how we’ve corrected the same example using the transition word while:

While strategic planning has improved, the board and management should work on planning that will prevent continuing weaknesses in key operating areas.

Final Recap: Run-on Sentences

To recap, a run-on sentence includes two or more complete thoughts connected only by a comma. Ways of correcting run-on sentences include adding a semicolon, period, coordinating conjunction, or conjunctive adverb.

Complete the following self check to test your knowledge of run-on sentences.

GREAT WORK!

PROGRESS TO THE SECTION SELF CHECK.