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Grammar Exercise Seven: Fused, Run-On, Comma Splice
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Run-ons: Fused Sentences and Comma Splices

Run-on sentences occur in two forms: fused sentences and comma splices.

Fused sentences and comma splices are similar in that both join two complete sentences (independent clauses) incorrectly.

  1. Fused sentences join two complete sentences (independent clauses) with nothing linking them.
    • Fused: What prominent people do often is noteworthy names make news.
      What prominent people do often is noteworthy + names make news.

    • Fused: The news point or lead is sometimes placed at the end of the piece as a kicker a delayed lead is used.
      The news point or lead is sometimes placed at the end of the pieceas a kicker + a delayed lead is used.

  2. Comma splices join two complete sentences (independent clauses) with only a comma.
    • Comma splice: What prominent people do often is noteworthy, names make news.
    • Comma splice: The news point or lead is sometimes placed at the end of thepiece as a kicker, a delayed lead is used.

Run-on Fix-its

Whether a fused sentence or a comma splice, run-ons are corrected in the same way.

Separate the independent clauses —

1. with a period:
The news point or lead is sometimes placed at the end of the piece as a kicker. A delayed lead is used.

2. with a semicolon (if the two clauses are closely related in sense):
The news point or lead is sometimes placed at the end of the piece as a kicker; a delayed lead is used.

3. with a comma followed by a coordinating conjunction:
The news point or lead is sometimes placed at the end of the piece as a kicker, and a delayed lead is used.

4. or with a semicolon followed by a conjunctive adverb (moreover, nonetheless, however):
The news point or lead is sometimes placed at the end of the piece as a kicker; moreover, a delayed lead is used.

Wrap Up

When a sentence is not complete, the result is often a fragment or a run-on. Fragments lack a major sentence element. Run-ons show up as fused sentences or comma splices. Check to see that your sentences are (a) complete and (b) joined correctly.

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Daniel Creighton, The Mercury

Three Die at Highway Intersection


Some of the sentences in the accident story here are run-on sentences — two sentences separated by a comma or with no punctuation between them. Indicate which sentences are run-on and which are grammatically correct.

1
Mr. and Mrs. Stanley Schaeffer of 45 Madison St. and their 17-year-old granddaughter, who was visiting her grandparents before going to college, were killed last night in a collision on Route 16 and State Highway 65, 18 miles north of the city.
A)Correct
B)Run-on
2
The Schaeffer car was traveling on Route 16 and had just entered Highway 65 when it collided with a car driven by Louis Kruger of Hutchinson, Kan.
A)Correct
B)Run-on
3
Kruger suffered a broken leg, however, his condition was not considered serious.
A)Correct
B)Run-on
4
Investigating officers Albert Doris and Ben Sandler said Schaeffer, 68, apparently had failed to stop at the stop sign on Route 16, also it is possible he suffered a stroke, they said.
A)Correct
B)Run-on
5
Schaeffer was driving his granddaughter to a Boston college where she was enrolled as a freshman, who had a four-year scholarship in physics.
A)Correct
B)Run-on





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