(cont’d)
Here’s another example of a run-on sentence:
“It is nearly half past nine, we cannot reach Don’s before last call.”
Again, this is incorrect.
Instead:
“It is nearly half past nine. We cannot reach Don’s before last call.”
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or |
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“It is nearly half past nine, and we cannot reach Don’s before |
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last call.” |
or |
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Don’s |
“It is nearly half past nine; we cannot reach |
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before last call.” |
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Elements |
Example adapted from: Strunk and White, The |
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of Style (4th Ed.) at 5-6. |
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8. Run-on Sentences
(cont’d)
Real example:
“There is no mention of liability, you may want to clarify whether you are liable to RCCQ members or liability is solely theirs.”
Better: “There is no mention of liability.
You may want to clarify . . .”
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8. Run-on Sentences
(cont’d)
Real example:
“We suggest that you contact RCCQ Towing to inform them of this problem, from there you can identify member’s that have paid in cash.”
Better: “. . . inform them of this problem. From there you can identify members that have paid . . .” (also 
corrected apostrophe)
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8. Run-on Sentences
(cont’d)
Real example:
“You can create a trust with the company as trustee, certain tax benefits may arise from doing so.”
Better: “You can create a trust with the company as trustee. Certain tax benefits may arise from doing so.”
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8. Run-on Sentences
(cont’d)
Real example:
“There is no mention as to your arrangement with RCCQ about a 25%-75% split of towing fees, it is strongly recommended that this be included.”
Better: “There is no mention as to . . . towing fees. We recommend that you include this information.”
(Note: This formulation also fixes the passive voice* problem in the second sentence.)
* More about this later.
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9. Semicolons and
Colons
Colons are used to indicate explanations and lists. “The Defendant should be found liable in negligence because he meets all
the elements: (1) he owed Plaintiff a duty of care; (2) he breached that duty; and (3) Defendant’s negligence caused Plaintiff $1 million in damages.”
Colons are also often used for salutations in letters. (“Dear Professor Puddingfoot: . . .”)
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9. Semicolons and Colons
(cont’d)
Semi-colons are used to separate two independent but closely related ideas that could otherwise be left as separate sentences (as here ); they are also used to separate items in a list in the place of a comma (see the first bullet point in the previous slide).
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9. Semicolons and Colons
(cont’d)
Real example:
“In our view the most important issues are; [a, b, and c].”
Better: “In our view, the most important issues are: a; b; and c.”
Note the use of semicolons here to separate each point; you could also keep the commas that were in the original example. Complicated points containing commas are better separated by semicolons.
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9. Semicolons and Colons
(cont’d)
Real example:
“Problem with drivers; some drivers are ‘pocketing’ cash payments by RCCQ members.”
Better: “Problem with drivers: some drivers are ‘pocketing’ cash payments by RCCQ members.”
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10. Commas
“Commas are used within sentences to mark various kinds of breaks; they should never appear at the end of a sentence. For instance, they can be used around phrases or clauses which can be seen as inserted within the structure of the sentence.”
Meehan and Tulloch, Grammar for Lawyers (2nd Ed.) at 102.
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