Run-on Sentences Learning how to punctuate

After the sixth inning, I went home, my family stayed.

I believe that the teacher has been grading me unfairly, all she does is look for minor mistakes.

Are these sentences well written?

What is it?

A RUN-ON SENTENCE (or "fused sentence") has at least two parts, either one of which can stand by itself (in other words, two independent clauses), but the two parts have been joined together instead of being properly connected.

The length of a sentence does not define a run-on. A run-on is a structural flaw that can plague even a very short sentence:

The sun is high, put on some sunscreen.

Length?

How do you recognize it?

Two independent clauses connected by only a comma = a run-on sentence called a comma-splice. When you use a comma to connect two independent clauses, it must be accompanied by a little conjunction (and, but, for, nor, yet, or, so).

The sun is high, so put on some sunscreen.

Why and how are they created?

I. When an independent clause gives an order or directive based on what was said in the prior independent clause.

This next chapter has a lot of difficult information in

it, you should start studying right away

How to correct it? (.) or (;)

II. When two independent clauses are connected by a transitional expression (conjunctive adverb) such as however, moreover, nevertheless.

Mr. Nguyen has sent his four children to ivy-league

colleges, however, he has sacrificed his health

working day and night in that dusty bakery.

III. When the second of two independent clauses contains a pronoun that connects it to the first independent clause.

This computer doesn't make sense to me, it came

without a manual.

Quiz Time!!

Try to repair the following run-on sentences.

1. Entrepreneurship is the study of small businesses, college students are embracing it enthusiastically.

2. My father is chairman of the Committee on Foreign Relations, he also heads the Warrant Commission.

3. All over the country, people sell products over the Internet, these people are making impressive profits.

4. One person had been exporting farm equipment, in fact he exports over 30,000 pieces of machinery a year.

5. Formal courses at the graduate level are now being taken by many elderly citizens, some schools even offer them special programs.

6. While time often erases bad memories, my ex-girlfriend never forgets anything, she even remembers things that happened over five years ago.

7. Even though the semester is almost over, the teacher does not know my name, she confuses me with other students.

Sentence Fragments

Fails to be a sentence in the sense that it cannot stand by itself. It does not contain even one independent clause.

A Sentence Fragment

Why and how are they created?

I. It may locate something in time and place with a prepositional phrase or a series of such phrases, but it's still lacking a proper subject-verb relationship within an independent clause:

In Japan, during the last war and just before the armistice.

II. It describes something, but there is no subject-verb relationship:

Working far into the night in an effort to salvage her little boat.

III. It may have most of the makings of a sentence but still be missing an important part of a verb string:

Some of the students working in Professor Espinoza's laboratory last semester.

IV. It may even have a subject-verb relationship, but it has been subordinated to another idea by a dependent word and so cannot stand by itself:

Even though he had the better arguments and was by far the more powerful speaker.

Although women's college basketball in Connecticut is a marvelously entertaining and popular sport. It not hard to remember. When it was not so popular. Which is hard to believe. Only a few years ago, my friends and I to go to a women's basketball game. And we could get seats for free near center court. Especially on Sunday afternoons. Of course, that before names such as Rebeccca Lobo, Jenn Rizzotti, and Kara Wolters became household words. Lobo's book, HOME-COURT ADVANTAGE, which she wrote with her mother. A best-seller in Connecticut. If more than a couple of hundred fans showed up for a game. It was considered a big turnout. And games were played in practically silent gyms. Because the fans didn't care who won. Nowadays, it almost impossible to buy tickets to a women's game, and you can't get seats. Unless you know someone.

Exercise

Although women's college basketball in Connecticut is a marvelously entertaining and popular sport. It not hard to remember. When it was not so popular. Which is hard to believe. Only a few years ago, my friends and I to go to a women's basketball game. And we could get seats for free near center court. Especially on Sunday afternoons. Of course, that before names such as Rebeccca Lobo, Jenn Rizzotti, and Kara Wolters became household words. Lobo's book, HOME-COURT ADVANTAGE, which she wrote with her mother. A best-seller in Connecticut. If more than a couple of hundred fans showed up for a game. It was considered a big turnout. And games were played in practically silent gyms. Because the fans didn't care who won. Nowadays, it almost impossible to buy tickets to a women's game, and you can't get seats. Unless you know someone.

References •Guide to Grammar and Writing. (2014, April 28). Retrieved from Quizes: http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/quizzes/runons_quiz.htm •Guide to Grammar and Writing. (2014, April 28). Retrieved from Run-on Sentences: http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/runons.htm