RUN-ONS AND COMMA SPLICES

Question

It would be appreciated if you someone shed some light in these edited sentences. Don't feel obligated to check all of the sentences.

a.At the only supermarket in town, apples from New Zealand cost less than locally grown
apples that doesn’t make sense.

At the only supermarket in town, apples from New Zealand cost less than locally grown
apples. That doesn’t make sense.

b.Manuel brought the cake, Patrice brought the ice cream, and I brought enough soda for an
army.
correct?

c.Paul dedicated his life to Petra, in return she dedicated her life to her job.

Paul dedicated his life to Petra. In return, she dedicated her life to her job.

e.You need to plan now otherwise your retirement income will be too little for you to live on.

You need to plan now; otherwise, your retirement income will be too little for you to live on.

3.One problem with the free market is that it doesn’t take into account pollution, pollution can be very costly.

One problem with the free market is that it doesn’t take into account pollution, which can be very costly.

1.In this chapter we discuss the skill of striking with rackets, in the next chapter we focus on
striking with golf clubs.

In this chapter we discuss the skill of striking with rackets. In the next chapter, we focus on
striking with golf clubs.

2.For all know, Mark is still living in Beavertown, enjoying his life, having forgotten about
senior year and that stupid bet he made that caused so much trouble.

For all know, Mark is still living in Beavertown; enjoying his life; having forgotten about
senior year; and that stupid bet he made that caused so much trouble.

4.Laws requiring motorcyclists to wear helmets are very controversial they don’t make sense
to some people.

Laws requiring motorcyclists to wear helmets, are very controversial. They don’t make sense
to some people.

5.Leonore drank a cup of strong coffee around 11 o’clock, it kept her awake all night.

Leonore drank a cup of strong coffee around 11 o’clock; it kept her awake all night.

6.Many citizens believe that political issues have nothing to do with their lives, therefore,
they don’t bother to vote.

Many citizens believe that political issues have nothing to do with their lives; therefore,
they don’t bother to vote.

7.We thought she would be angry when we gave her a list of household chores however, she
was pleased to be asked to help.

We thought she would be angry when we gave her a list of household chores; however, she
was pleased to be asked to help.

8.Jack Kerouac wrote at his typewriter with long continuous rolls of paper, he didn’t have to
waste time sticking in a new sheet.

Jack Kerouac wrote at his typewriter with long continuous rolls of paper, he didn’t have to
waste time sticking in a new sheet.

9.Drivers should always be aware of weather conditions for example, fog reduces visibility, and icy roads require very slow travel.

Drivers should always be aware of weather conditions for example; fog reduces visibility, and icy roads require very slow travel.

10.VCRs changed the entertainment habits of millions of Americans the devices did not cause vast numbers of movie theaters to close, as some prophets had feared.

VCRs changed the entertainment habits of millions of Americans. The devices did not cause vast numbers of movie theaters to close, as some prophets had feared.

GPY · Accepted Answer

e.You need to plan now otherwise your retirement income will be too little for you to live on.
You need to plan now; otherwise, your retirement income will be too little for you to live on.
Although I would prefer a comma in the original sentence, such use of "otherwise" as a conjunction doesn't seem wrong to me. Your sentence is OK too though.

3.One problem with the free market is that it doesn’t take into account pollution, pollution can be very costly.
One problem with the free market is that it doesn’t take into account pollution, which can be very costly.
Your correction has introduced a very slight potential ambiguity: it could be interpreted to mean that not taking pollution into account can be very costly, while the original incorrectly punctuated sentence says that pollution can be very costly. This difference may be unimportant.

2.For all know, Mark is still living in Beavertown, enjoying his life, having forgotten about senior year and that stupid bet he made that caused so much trouble.
For all know, Mark is still living in Beavertown; enjoying his life; having forgotten about senior year; and that stupid bet he made that caused so much trouble.
This doesn't look right. I would write it as "For all we know, Mark is still living in Beavertown and enjoying his life, having forgotten about senior year and that stupid bet he made that caused so much trouble." (There is also a typo at the start of the sentence.)

8.Jack Kerouac wrote at his typewriter with long continuous rolls of paper, he didn’t have to waste time sticking in a new sheet.
Jack Kerouac wrote at his typewriter with long continuous rolls of paper, he didn’t have to waste time sticking in a new sheet.
I think you forgot to correct this one?

9.Drivers should always be aware of weather conditions for example, fog reduces visibility, and icy roads require very slow travel.
Drivers should always be aware of weather conditions for example; fog reduces visibility, and icy roads require very slow travel.
I think you have broken the sentence in the wrong place. I think "for example" is supposed to apply to the statements about fog and ice.

10.VCRs changed the entertainment habits of millions of Americans the devices did not cause vast numbers of movie theaters to close, as some prophets had feared.
VCRs changed the entertainment habits of millions of Americans. The devices did not cause vast numbers of movie theaters to close, as some prophets had feared.
This is not wrong, but I wonder whether a connecting word like "however" or "but" would better express the intended contrast?

The others look OK to me, but note that you should leave a space after an item number. For example, this is incorrect:

1.In this chapter we discuss ...

and this is correct:

1. In this chapter we discuss ...

Oliver01 · Answer

GPYThe others look OK to me, but note that you should leave a space after an item number. For example, this is incorrect:1.In this chapter we discuss ...and this is correct:1. In this chapter we discuss ...

That, I had no idea about. Learned something new.

GPY10.VCRs changed the entertainment habits of millions of Americans the devices did not cause vast numbers of movie theaters to close, as some prophets had feared.VCRs changed the entertainment habits of millions of Americans. The devices did not cause vast numbers of movie theaters to close, as some prophets had feared.This is not wrong, but I wonder whether a connecting word like "however" or "but" would better express the intended contrast?

Yes, it also makes the transition to the next sentence smoother.

GPY9.Drivers should always be aware of weather conditions for example, fog reduces visibility, and icy roads require very slow travel.Drivers should always be aware of weather conditions for example; fog reduces visibility, and icy roads require very slow travel.I think you have broken the sentence in the wrong place. I think "for example" is supposed to apply to the statements about fog and ice.

Here is my second attempt. Let me know what you think.
Drivers should always be aware of weather conditions. For example, fog reduces visibility; and icy roads require very slow travel.

GPY8.Jack Kerouac wrote at his typewriter with long continuous rolls of paper, he didn’t have to waste time sticking in a new sheet.Jack Kerouac wrote at his typewriter with long continuous rolls of paper, he didn’t have to waste time sticking in a new sheet.I think you forgot to correct this one?

Woops.
8.Jack Kerouac wrote at his typewriter with long continuous rolls of paper; he didn’t have to waste time sticking in a new sheet.

GPY3.One problem with the free market is that it doesn’t take into account pollution, pollution can be very costly.One problem with the free market is that it doesn’t take into account pollution, which can be very costly.Your correction has introduced a very slight potential ambiguity: it could be interpreted to mean that not taking pollution into account can be very costly, while the original incorrectly punctuated sentence says that pollution can be very costly. This difference may be unimportant.

Here is my second attempt. It sounds slightly better to me. Hopefully this is also true for you.
3.One problem with the free market, which can be very costly, is that it doesn’t take into account pollution.

On side note, thanks for the help.

GPY · Answer

Oliver01Here is my second attempt. Let me know what you think.Drivers should always be aware of weather conditions. For example, fog reduces visibility; and icy roads require very slow travel.

There is no need for the semicolon. A comma (or nothing) is enough there.

Oliver018.Jack Kerouac wrote at his typewriter with long continuous rolls of paper; he didn’t have to waste time sticking in a new sheet.

This is OK, but I wonder whether the two parts were supposed to be joined with a word like "so". This would slightly change the meaning, though, so I'm not sure...

Oliver01Here is my second attempt. It sounds slightly better to me. Hopefully this is also true for you.3.One problem with the free market, which can be very costly, is that it doesn’t take into account pollution.

This doesn't actually address the issue that I mentioned (the only interpretation now is that not taking pollution into account is costly, assuming we ignore the possibility that the free market is costly). I prefer your original version. Or just put "Pollution can be very costly" in a separate sentence.

Oliver01 · Answer

GPYThis doesn't actually address the issue that I mentioned (the only interpretation now is that not taking pollution into account is costly, assuming we ignore the possibility that the free market is costly). I prefer your original version. Or just put "Pollution can be very costly" in a separate sentence

I guess, I wasn't sure what is costly.
So if we want to say free market is costly, then could we say,
One problem with the very costly free market, is that it doesn't take into account pollution.

GPYOliver018.Jack Kerouac wrote at his typewriter with long continuous rolls of paper; he didn’t have to waste time sticking in a new sheet.This is OK, but I wonder whether the two parts were supposed to be joined with a word like "so". This would slightly change the meaning, though, so I'm not sure...

'so' sounds better to me too.

GPYOliver01Here is my second attempt. Let me know what you think.Drivers should always be aware of weather conditions. For example, fog reduces visibility; and icy roads require very slow travel.There is no need for the semicolon. A comma (or nothing) is enough there.

Makes sense.

GPY · Answer

Oliver01One problem with the very costly free market, is that it doesn't take into account pollution.

The comma should not be there. Of course, this is not what the original sentence means, as I'm sure you realise.

Oliver01 · Answer

I am now confused.

GPY · Answer

One problem with the free market is that it doesn’t take into account pollution, pollution can be very costly.
Mispunctuated, but says that pollution can be very costly.

One problem with the free market is that it doesn’t take into account pollution, which can be very costly.
Ambiguous as to whether pollution can be very costly or not taking pollution into account can be very costly. This distinction may not always be important.

One problem with the free market, which can be very costly, is that it doesn’t take into account pollution.
Would normally be understood to mean that the problem (i.e. not taking pollution into account) can be very costly. Could in theory mean that the free market can be very costly, but this interpretation seems unlikely.

One problem with the very costly free market is that it doesn't take into account pollution.
Means that the free market is very costly.

RUN-ONS AND COMMA SPLICES

Top answer

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

Related Questions