Identify the type of run-on sentence in the following example …

English Questions

Read the incorrect sentence. Write three to five sentences explaining what kind of run-on sentence it is and how to revise it. My mother and father are both scientists, it must have been my destiny to become interested in biology.

Short Answer

The error identified is a comma splice, which improperly connects two independent clauses. To correct it, replace the comma with a period or use a semi-colon, resulting in grammatically correct sentences.

Step-by-Step Solution

Identify the Error

The first step is to recognize that the sentence contains a comma splice. A comma splice occurs when a comma is incorrectly used to connect two independent clauses that could stand alone as separate sentences. Understanding this will help you see why the sentence is incorrect.

Choose Your Fix

Once you identify the comma splice, you need to decide how to correct it. There are two main options for fixing this issue:

  • Replace the comma with a period to create two separate sentences.
  • Use a semi-colon to connect the clauses more closely.

Apply the Correction

Now that you’ve chosen your fix, apply it to the sentence. Here are the correct forms:

  • My mother and father are both scientists. It must have been my destiny to become interested in biology.
  • My mother and father are both scientists; it must have been my destiny to become interested in biology.

This will ensure that your sentence is grammatically correct and clear.

Related Concepts

Comma Splice

A grammatical error where a comma incorrectly joins two independent clauses that could be separate sentences

Independent Clause

A group of words that contains a subject and a verb and expresses a complete thought, able to stand alone as a sentence

Corrective Measures

Strategies used to fix grammatical errors, such as replacing a comma with a period or using a semicolon to connect clauses.

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