Run-on Sentences
A run-on sentence happens when two or more independent clauses are joined without any punctuation or conjunction (a.k.a. fused sentence), or joined incorrectly by a comma (a.k.a. comma splice). Here are examples of both and ways to correct them.
Fused Sentence: Two independent clauses (complete sentences) fused together improperly:
Mrs. Smith always goes food shopping on Mondays she has a set routine.
Ways to fix a fused sentence:
Mrs. Smith always goes food shopping on Mondays. She has a set routine. (with a period mark)
Mrs. Smith always goes food shopping on Mondays; she has a set routine. (with a semicolon)
Mrs. Smith always goes food shopping on Mondays, for she has a set routine. (with a comma & conjunction)
Because of her set routine, Mrs. Smith always goes food shopping on Mondays. (reconstruct the sentence)
Comma Splice: Two independent clauses (complete sentences) joined improperly by a comma, which is not strong enough for the job.
Grandma enjoys walks in the park, she gets tired after a while.
Ways to fix a comma splice:
Grandma enjoys walks in the park. She gets tired after a while. (with a period mark)
Grandma enjoys walks in the park; she gets tired after a while. (with a semicolon)
Grandma enjoys walks in the park but gets tired after a while. (with a conjunction)
Grandma enjoys walks in the park, but she gets tired after a while. (with a comma & conjunction)
Although she gets tired after a while, grandma enjoys walks in the park. (reconstruct the sentence)
Additional Notes
A run-on sentence happens when two or more independent clauses are joined without any punctuation or conjunction (a.k.a. fused sentence), or joined incorrectly by a comma (a.k.a. comma splice). Here are examples of both and ways to correct them.
Fused Sentence: Two independent clauses (complete sentences) fused together improperly:
Mrs. Smith always goes food shopping on Mondays she has a set routine.
Ways to fix a fused sentence:
Mrs. Smith always goes food shopping on Mondays. She has a set routine. (with a period mark)
Mrs. Smith always goes food shopping on Mondays; she has a set routine. (with a semicolon)
Mrs. Smith always goes food shopping on Mondays, for she has a set routine. (with a comma & conjunction)
Because of her set routine, Mrs. Smith always goes food shopping on Mondays. (reconstruct the sentence)
Comma Splice: Two independent clauses (complete sentences) joined improperly by a comma, which is not strong enough for the job.
Grandma enjoys walks in the park, she gets tired after a while.
Ways to fix a comma splice:
Grandma enjoys walks in the park. She gets tired after a while. (with a period mark)
Grandma enjoys walks in the park; she gets tired after a while. (with a semicolon)
Grandma enjoys walks in the park but gets tired after a while. (with a conjunction)
Grandma enjoys walks in the park, but she gets tired after a while. (with a comma & conjunction)
Although she gets tired after a while, grandma enjoys walks in the park. (reconstruct the sentence)
Additional Notes
- Commas are not strong enough to join independent clauses. Semicolons are stronger and can be used to join independent clauses that are related in concept. Period marks are the strongest and have the ability to join any/all independent clauses.
- Conjunctions are words that connect other words, phrases, or clauses. There are many conjunctions. The most common ones are for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so. Use the acronym FANBOYS to help remember.
- Use a comma with a conjunction to separate two independent clauses.
- Don't use a comma with a conjunction when the conjunction follows a dependent clause.
- Reconstruct a fused sentence or comma splice to make it right. In the respective examples above, the latter part of each sentence (the dependent clause) is moved to the front and a subordinating conjunction is added.
