Strategies for Sentence Recognition -- Identifying Run-Ons and Comma Splices

First, some terminology and examples. A run-on, or fused, sentence is actually two or more sentences all crammed together without the proper connective punctuation. Note: There is a difference between a sentence that is grammatically a run-on and a complex sentence that is correctly punctuated, but long and unwieldy nevertheless. A comma splice is basically a run-on sentence that is improperly connected with only a comma.

• Example One: I had watched the news. I knew what I was up against on the morning of September 24, 2002.
  Unlinked, simple sentences
  
• Example Two: Peer tutoring relies on this fundamental principle sometimes learning to fix comma splices and awkward sentences "clicks" when explained one-on-one by someone who isn't the teacher.
  Run-on
  
• Example Three: Perl makes interesting observations about recursiveness and its tendency to interrupt the writing process; her notes on the implications of a tabula rasa approach to teaching students with deeply internalized (but nevertheless problematic) processes seem very perceptive.
  Correctly punctuated, but this complex sentence may seem unwieldy
  
• Example Four: Peer tutors are not trained counselors, they generally have no experience with psychology and are not equipped to offer therapy to their students.
  Comma splice

Strategy for Identifying Run-On Sentences and Comma Splices

Make up a "yes/no" question about the questionable sentence--that is, either put "do/did" in front of the sentence or move "is/was" to the front. An acceptable sentence will yield one yes/no question. Run-on sentences or comma splices will create two yes/no questions. If your sentence creates two yes/no questions, you should split the sentence into two. See our Coordination handout for suggestions on how to combine sentences effectively.

Examples:

Malcolm X was arrested for robbery in 1961.
Was Malcolm X arrested for robbery in 1961?
Can be answered yes/no, and therefore an independent clause

The children in Camden are forced to go to schools that most Americans would never want to send their children they are over-populated and understaffed.
Are the children in Camden forced to go to schools that most Americans would never want to send their children?
Are they over-populated and understaffed?
(Creates two yes/no questions, and therefore a run-on)

Once you have determined how many independent clauses you are working with, then you can choose proper punctuation to link those clauses together. Check out our Punctuation Pattern Sheet to see some common ways of connecting clauses.