Avoiding Run-on Sentences



A run–on sentence is two or more sentences capitalized and punctuated as if they were a single sentence. 

Use punctuation and conjunctions to correctly join or separate parts of a run – on sentence. 

There are two kinds of run-ons

 a) Fused sentences are two or more sentences joined with no punctuation.  

e.g.: The team practiced every day they became the best in the state. 

 b)  Comma splices have two or more sentences separated only by commas  rather than commas and conjunctions.

e.g.: The one couple arrived for dinner , the other couple never came. 

As with fragments , proofreading and reading your work aloud will help you find run-ons . Once found, they can be corrected by adding punctuation and conjunctions or conjunctions or by rewording  the sentences. 

Four Ways To Correct Run-Ons

RUN – ON

CORRECTION

With End Marks and Capitals

The party was in full swing at the house the people laughed together.

The party was in full swing. At the house, the people laughed together.

With Commas and Conjunctions 

The presents needed wrapping we could not locate the tape.

The presents needed wrapping , but we could not locate the tape.

With Semicolons

New York City has many cultures living together, consequently it is called the melting pot. 

New York City has many cultures living together ; consequently , it is called the melting pot.

By Rewriting 

The dog show began late , a judge didn’t arrive on time. 

The dog show began late , a judge didn’t arrive on time. 

Let's Practice......

Practice 1: Identifying and Correcting Fragments

Read each sentence. If an item contains a fragment , rewrite it to make a complete sentence .If an item contains a complete sentence , write correct.

EXAMPLE: While she was cooking .

Answer: While she was cooking , the phone rang.

  1. Loud music makes studying difficult.
  2. Where cattails and reeds grew high.
  3. I am sometimes funny, silly or just silly.
  4. Must have been abandoned.
  5. He plans to be friendly.
  6. After he took the dog to the vet.
  7. A gallon of green paint should be enough for this room. 
  8. When the bell rang , there were students left outside.
  9. Concerned about the look of the sky.
  10. Because time was running short.

Practice 2: Revising to Eliminate Run-on Sentences

Read each sentence. Correct each run-on by correctly joining or separating the sentence parts.

EXAMPLE: The beach is pleasant during the week , it is crowded on weekends.

Answer: The beach is pleasant during the week . It is crowded on weekends.             

  1. The play was good , the cast was only mediocre.
  2. Michael wants to become a doctor, he is my brother.
  3. You'll love that book, it is a page turner.
  4. I applied for a variety of jobs, everyone said I interviewed well.
  5. In general , I love to exercise running is the activity that I enjoyed most.
  6. Catie write a poem it was her homework assignment.
  7. Patel took driver's education classes, he received his driver's license a few months passed.
  8. Days turned into years, the years quickly passed.
  9. Have you heard the news Marti is moving to Miami.
  10. Catherine II was a Russian empress, she was called Catherine the Great. 

Answer Key

Practice (1): 

  1. correct
  2. They built a stadium where cattails and reeds grew higher.
  3. correct
  4. That building must have been abandoned.
  5. correct
  6. He went home after he took the dog to the vet.
  7. correct
  8. correct
  9. The sailor was concerned about the look of the sky.
  10. Some events were cancelled because time was running short.

Practice (2):

  1. The play was good , but the cast was only mediocre.
  2. Michael wants to become a doctor.He is my brother.
  3. You'll love that book; it is a page turner.
  4. I applied for a variety of jobs. Everyone said I interviewed well.
  5. In general , I love to exercise . Running is the activity that I enjoyed most.
  6. Catie write a poem. It was her homework assignment.
  7. Patel took driver's education classes.He received his driver's license a few months passed.
  8. Days turned into years; the years quickly passed.
  9. Have you heard the news ? Marti is moving to Miami.
  10. Catherine II was a Russian empress. She was called Catherine the Great.