FL1024 GRAMMAR FOR ACADEMIC WRITING
FINAL PRESENTATION OUTLINE
Student: Nguyễn Thúy Nga 20224624
Class code: 148221
Presentation topic: Run-on sentences
Detailed outline
Introduction: There are three common mistakes in writing sentences namely sentence
fragments, run-on sentences, and comma splices, making readers confused about the
writer’s messages. This presentation is about run-on sentences.
Run-on sentences:
- Definition / Explanation: A run-on sentence is two or more independent clauses incorrectly
presented in a single sentence. This can be highly distracting to readers and prevent the writer
from successfully communicating key information (Sweetland Center for Writing, 2024).
- Types of run-on sentences: comma splices, fused sentences (Eslbuzz, 2023)
Comma splices: A comma splice happens when two independent clauses are joined
together with just a comma.
This is incorrect because an independent clause is a complete thought and should be
separated by a period or a semicolon. Here’s an example:
Incorrect: I love ice cream, it’s my favorite dessert.
Correct: I love ice cream. It’s my favorite dessert.
To fix a comma splice, you can either separate the two clauses into separate sentences or
join them together with a coordinating conjunction (e.g., and, but, or, so).
A fused sentence happens when two independent clauses are joined together with no
punctuation at all.
This is incorrect because the two clauses are not properly separated, making the sentence
difficult to read. Here’s an example:
Incorrect: I love ice cream it’s my favorite dessert.
Correct: I love ice cream. It’s my favorite dessert.
To fix a fused sentence, you can either separate the two clauses into separate sentences or
join them together with a semicolon or coordinating conjunction.
- Illustration:
· Example 1 (St. Petersburg College Learning Resources, 2024): My brother just graduated
from high school he will attend St. Petersburg College.
This sentence has two clauses which are not separated (fused sentence). This makes readers
confused about the relationship between these two above clauses. Therefore, adding a
conjunction and a comma is necessary.
-> My brother just graduated from high school, so he will attend St. Petersburg College.
· Example 2: The weather was nice we went to the beach!
This example has two sentences combined incorrectly without a comma or a conjunction,
therefore cannot show the relationship between these and what the author means. The example
can be fixed by adding a comma and a conjunction like:
-> The weather was nice, so we went to the beach!
References (see APA 7 ed.)
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Eslbuzz (8 August, 2023). Avoiding Run-On Sentences: The Ultimate Guide to Clear
Writing.
https://www.eslbuzz.com/run-on-sentence/#Types_of_Run-On_Sentences
St. Petersburg College Learning Resources (30 May, 2024). Basic Grammar and Punctuation:
Run-on Sentences.
https://spcollege.libguides.com/c.php?g=254288&p=1695261
Sweetland Center for Writing (2024). What is a Run-on Sentence & How Do I Fix It?
What is a Run-on Sentence & How Do I Fix It? | U-M LSA Sweetland Center for Writing
