Run on sentences and comma splices:

Sometimes two sentences are accidentally run together because the writer fails to insert a
period at the end of the first complete thought, or because the writer inserts a comma
instead of a period at the end of the first complete thought.

For example:
1. Estelle likes gooseberries she even eats them at basketball games. (period was
forgotten)
2. Estelle likes gooseberries, she even eats them at basketball games. (comma was used
in place of a period)
Since there are two independent thoughts expressed in these run-together sentences, the
thoughts must be separated, or they must be joined together in some way that makes their
relationship to each other more clear.
3. Estelle likes gooseberries. She even eats them at basketball games. (correct use of
period)
4. Estelle likes gooseberries so much that she even eats them at basketball games.
(addition of words to clarify the relationship of the two thoughts and allow them to work
together)

Exercises:

1. I knocked on the door when the lady came I gave her a warm smile.
2. Why should I apologize when he insulted me he did not apologize.
3. Once, Muscatine was a tiny settlement with only a few people, today, it is a busy city of
27,000 people.
4. Why do you ask, what concern is it of yours?

See the problems created by the sentences above? We are actually running two sentences
together in each case. When we join two sentences together with a comma instead of
separating them with a terminal punctuation mark (period, question mark, semicolon,
exclamation point), we are creating a comma splice. Sentences three and four are examples
of comma splices.

Now fix the above 4 sentences:

1. ____________________________________________________________________________________________

2. ____________________________________________________________________________________________

3. ____________________________________________________________________________________________

4. _____________________________________________________________________________________________
More exercises:

1. Mary kissed Henry, then, for no apparent reason, she slapped him.

2. Darwin's theory hypothesizes that humans evolved from lower life forms, however, its
validity has been frequently challenged.

3. His actions were not only irresponsible, they were also probably illegal.

4. Computers are very useful, they enable us to perform complex tasks in a relatively short time.

5. The sun is high, put on some sunblock.

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

enthusiastically.

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

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

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

10. After dinner, I went to bed, my husband stayed up.

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

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

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

14. The team ran down the field, still they could not score a goal.

15. The airport is about to shut down because of the snow and if the plane doesn't land soon it will
have to go on to Boston.

16. The show begins at 7:30 make sure you're there before 7:15.

17. Throughout history money and religion were closely linked there was little distinction between
government and religion.

18. Judy leads a happy life she never seems to have any serious problems.