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Wishing to improve your writing? The Business Communication Lab recommends that you following these helpful tips. This week's tip is centered on run-on sentences.
Run-on sentences are one of the most common problems in writing. Because popular word processors like Microsoft Word and Google Docs can overlook these mistakes, you need to understand the elements of a sentence to avoid them.
Commas and semicolons are not interchangeable
Commas are used to connect items in a series: “This semester I’m taking Corporate Law, Data Analytics, and Business Communication.” Connecting two independent clauses with only a comma is grammatically incorrect and called a comma splice.
Semicolons ( ; ) are used to connect two independent clauses that are closely related. A semicolon is enough to connect two independent clauses, but a conjunctive adverb like “however,” “therefore,” and “thus” can also be included. A comma should always come after the conjunctive adverb.
Ex. “Laticia wrote an excellent report; therefore, Ahmet had little to revise.”
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