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MU Home » Academics » School of Arts and Humanities » Department of English and Writing

Error 2: The Fused Sentence (fs)

A fused sentence (sometimes called a run-on sentence) is an error that occurs when two independent clauses have no punctuation separating them. Fused sentences tend to occur with pronouns and conjunctive adverbs (transitional words or phrases).

• Fused sentence example: I ate raspberries I developed a rash.
• Fused sentence example: She ate raspberries her lips were red.
• Fused sentence example: I ate raspberries therefore I developed a rash.

Checking for Fused Sentences

1. Check to see if the sentence contains two or more independent clauses.
2. If the sentence contains two independent clauses, check the way the independent clauses are joined. There are three acceptable ways to connect independent clauses:

1. a comma plus a coordinating conjunction (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so).
2. a semicolon
3. a colon

Correcting Fused Sentences

There are several ways to correct fused sentences like this one:

• Fused sentence example: I ate raspberries I developed a rash.

1. Use a period between the two independent clauses to create two sentences.

• Example: I ate raspberries. I developed a rash.

2. Use a comma and a coordinating conjunction to create a compound sentence.

• Example: I ate raspberries, so I developed a rash.

3. Use a semicolon to create a compound sentence.

• Example: I ate raspberries; I developed a rash.

4. Use a semicolon and a conjunctive adverb to create a compound sentence.

• Example: I ate raspberries; therefore, I developed a rash.

5. Use a colon between the two sentences if the second sentence explains the first sentence.

• Example: I ate raspberries, and I developed a rash: I am allergic to raspberries.

6. Use a subordinating conjunction and a dependent clause to create a complex sentence.

• Example: Because I ate raspberries, I developed a rash.

Exercise

Please print this exercise, mark the correct answers, and check your work against the version with answers.

Exercise on Comma Splices and Fused Sentences

Exercise on Comma Splices and Fused Sentences with Answers