写作常见错误

Understanding the Basic Sentence:

Run-ons and comma splices

Notes: run-ons: Fused Sentences and Comma Splices

I. Run-on sentence-A run-on sentence contains two independent clauses that have been incorrectly joined together.

A. independent clause-group of words that can stand alone as a complete sentence.

B. Two types of run-on sentences

1. Fused sentence-when two independent clauses are joined with no punctuation at all.

a. Example: I have a test on Thursday it should not be difficult.

correction: I have a test on Thursday, and it should not be difficult.

2. Comma splice-when two independent clauses are joined with just a comma.

a. Example: The student government election is this week, I have no idea who is running.

correction: The student government election is this week, but I have no idea who is running.

II. Identifying run-ons

A. Imaginary Period tip: If a sentence contains two separate ideas, put an imaginary period between them. Ask: Can BOTH parts now stand alone as complete sentences? If so, then the sentence might be a run-on.

III. Correcting run-ons

A. Three ways to correct run-on sentences

e a period. The easiest way to separate two independent clauses is with a period.

2. Use a semicolon (;) to separate two independent clauses if they are related ideas

3. Use a comma (,) to combine the ideas. Y ou must use a coordinating conjunction after the comma (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so).

Diagnostic Exercise (CSGG, p. 21)

Correct all run-on errors. There are 6.

My friend Miranda is a junior majoring in government she plans to go to law school. Most law schools accept applicants from all majors, she thinks that majoring in government would help her prepare for law. Her grades are high she has about a 3.8 GPA currently. she works very hard, she s tudies more than any person I know. she plans to take the LSA T this fall she will be studying for it on top of everything else. I admire her energy, I'm sure she has what it takes to be a good law student.

Sentence Practice 1

Correct these sentences.

1. Colleen called, she wants me to help her with her homework.

2. London was the first city to have a population of over one million, it reached that milestone in 1811.

3. My son wants to buy a snake, his mother is not happy about the idea.

4. The mascot for Y ale is now a bulldog, its mascot over a hundred years ago was a cat.

5. Colombia was once considered part of South America, its government decided in 1903 to proclaim Colombia was part of North America.

Sentence Practice 2

Correct these run-on sentences

1. When Benita first decided to go to college, her parents wanted her to stay near home.

2. The first home TV set was demonstrated in 1928, it measured only 3 inches by 4 inches.

3. The street lights in the city of Hershey, Pennsylvania, look strange, they resemble Hershey's chocolate kisses.

4. I liked the early Harry Potter books better, the later ones got too dark for me.

5. I thought the actors in the Harry Potter movies were terrific even the minor characters were wonderful.