Review of Run-ons and Comma Splices
Run-ons and comma splices often occur in paragraphs or longer passages. Some of the sentences in
the paragraphs below contain run-ons or comma splices.
Directions: As you read each passage, select the blank line after each sentence and choose the option
from the dropdown menu that correctly identifies the sentence. Select "RO" if it is a run-on "CS" if it ,
contains a comma splice "C" if the sentence is correct. Then, answer the question or questions , or
below.
Beauty and Success
(1) The benefits of good looks might go further than many people realize . Good-C (2)
looking people are more likely to have better career prospects, the assumption by many employers is
that they are more talented, more honest, and more intelligent than unattractive or plain people
CS . More attractive people start at a higher salary they are also more likely to get promoted(3)
RO . For this reason, many job candidates in Europe and in Israel put their pictures into (4)
the top corner of their r攃Āsum攃Ās, or they attach their headshots to their application materials C
. The content of their r攃Āsum攃Ās was identical, attractive men who attached their pictures had (5)
almost double the chance of an interview .CS
Points:
1 / 1
Which of the following corrects sentence 3?
This sentence is correct.
More attractive people start at a higher salary, and they are also more likely to get promoted.
More attractive people start at a higher salary, they are also more likely to get promoted.
Points:
1 / 1
Which of the following is one way to correct sentence 4?
Add punctuation.
Use a coordinating conjunction.
This sentence is correct.
Points:
1 / 1
Close Explanation
Explanation:
Sentence Explanation
(1) The benefits of good looks
might go further than many people
realize.
This sentence is correct. It has a subject (benefits) and
main verb (might go). Also, it expresses a complete
idea.
(2) Good-looking people are more
likely to have better career
prospects, the assumption by many
employers is that they are more
talented, more honest, and more
intelligent than unattractive or
plain people.
This sentence divides two complete ideas with a
comma (between prospects and ) but the assumption
with no conjunction. Therefore, it contains a comma
splice.
(3) More attractive people start at a
higher salary they are also more
likely to get promoted.
The ideas "More attractive people start at a higher
salary" and "they are also more likely to get promoted"
are run together without using a conjunction or
punctuation (a run-on).
"More attractive people start at a higher salary, and
they are also more likely to get promoted" uses a
comma after with the conjunction to correct salary and
the run-on.
"More attractive people start at a higher salary; they are
also more likely to get promoted" uses a semicolon to
join the two sentences and correct the run-on.
(4) For this reason, many job
candidates in Europe and in Israel
put their pictures into the top
corner of their r攃Āsum攃Ās, or they
attach their headshots to their
application materials.
Sentence 4 is correct. It correctly uses a comma
between and the coordinating conjunction . r攃Āsum攃Ās or
Furthermore, is the appropriate coordinating or
conjunction to use in this sentence as it means that the
candidates did one action or the other but with not
both.
Sentence Explanation
(5) The content of their r攃Āsum攃Ās
was identical, attractive men who
attached their pictures had almost
double the chance of an interview.
This sentence divides two complete ideas with a
comma after but with no coordinating identical
conjunction. Therefore, it contains a comma splice.
(6) A pretty face also has advantages in the political arena . For example, Dilma C (7)
Rousseff, the former president of Brazil got a total makeover during her election campaign the public
did not like her matronly appearance . Rousseff had her teeth whitened, she also RO (8)
traded her helmet-like hairdo for a modern look . In addition, the candidate switched CS (9)
her glasses for contact lenses plastic surgeons removed wrinkles from her forehead and her brow
RO . Rousseff's popularity in the polls increased, the presidential candidate looked younger (10)
and healthier .CS
Points:
1 / 1
Which of the following corrects sentence 8?
Rousseff had her teeth whitened. She also traded her helmet-like hairdo for a modern look.
This sentence is correct.
Rousseff had her teeth whitened she also traded her helmet-like hairdo for a modern look.
Points:
1 / 1
Close Explanation
Explanation:
Sentence Explanation
(6) A pretty face also has
advantages in the political arena.
This sentence is correct. It has a subject (face) and main
verb (has). Also, it expresses a complete idea.
Sentence Explanation
(7) For example, Dilma Rousseff,
the former president of Brazil got
a total makeover during her
election campaign the public did
not like her matronly appearance.
The ideas "For example, Dilma Rousseff, the former
president of Brazil got a total makeover during her
election campaign" and "the public did not like her
matronly appearance" are run together without using a
conjunction or punctuation (a run-on).
(8) Rousseff had her teeth
whitened, she also traded her
helmet-like hairdo for a modern
look.
This sentence divides two complete ideas with a comma
(between and ) but with teeth whitened she also traded
no conjunction. Therefore, it contains a comma splice.
One way to correct this is to make the two complete
ideas separate sentences: "Rousseff had her teeth
whitened. She also traded her helmet-like hairdo for a
modern look."
(9) In addition, the candidate
switched her glasses for contact
lenses plastic surgeons removed
wrinkles from her forehead and
her brow.
The ideas "In addition, the candidate switched her
glasses for contact lenses" and "plastic surgeons
removed wrinkles from her forehead and her brow" are
run together without using a conjunction or punctuation.
Therefore, it is a run-on.
(10) Rousseff's popularity in the
polls increased, the presidential
candidate looked younger and
healthier.
This sentence divides two complete ideas with a comma
(between increased and the presidential candidate) but
with no conjunction. Therefore, it contains a comma
splice.
