ENGL000: Pre-College English

Once you have found a run-on or comma-splice, you need to fix it.  There are four different methods you can use.

1. Use a period and a capital letter.

Basically, if the two word groups can stand alone as independent sentences, go ahead and make them do that, and it will fix your run-on!

2. Use a semicolon.

A semicolon (;) is a punctuation mark that looks like a period and a comma put together. 

It has the strength of a period in that it can separate two independent word groups, but it will also allow you to keep those word groups together in one sentence.

3. Use coordination (a comma and a joining word such as: and, but, for, so, nor, yet, or).

A nice way to remember this is with the acronym FANBOYS:

For
And
Nor
But
Or 
Yet

So

A way to think of it is that joining words alone are weak and not strong enough to separate independent word groups. Likewise, commas alone are weak and not strong enough to separate independent word groups (in fact if we just use a comma to correct a run-on, we create a comma-splice). Together, however, they make a great team! Also, remember that it is a very short list of joining words and they are very short words (three letters or fewer).

Please keep in mind that the comma will always go BEFORE the joining word.

4. Use subordination (dependent words).

Subordination means that you are subordinating one word group to the other – in other words, you are using a dependent word (such as because, although, when, etc… see the box above) to make one word group reliant upon the other.

or

Dependent words are interesting that way – you put one in front of an otherwise complete sentence (independent word group) and that independent word group becomes dependent. For example, "My grades are very good this semester" can stand alone as a complete sentence; however, when I put the dependent word "although" in front of that word group, the sentence becomes a fragment, "Although my grades are very good this semester". (As a reader, this feels incomplete – we feel as though we are left hanging…)

By definition, dependent words are perfect for fixing run-ons because dependent clauses NEED a second word group (clause) that completes the thought. Once you make one of the two independent clauses in a sentence that have caused a run-on, dependent upon the other, you have fixed your run-on sentence!

In the end, all four of these methods are effective and as an author, you get to decide what you like best.

That said, in many ways, methods 3 and 4 are better than methods 1 and 2 because joining words and dependent words show relationships between ideas, giving readers more information and giving your writing a stronger flow. For example, it is technically correct to fix the following run-on:

by just making it two sentences (period and capital letter method):

However, it might still be a bit confusing for readers to have such opposite ideas side by side and a better way of correcting the run-on would be, "You are a great employee, but you are often late". or "Although you are a great employee, you are often late." or "You are a great employee although you are often late".

In particular with coordination and subordination, remember that those joining words and dependent words are not interchangeable. They show different kinds of relationships and it will be important to determine what word will best express your meaning.

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Source: Erin Severs
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