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Chapter 9.6 Run-on Sentences

Man Running

A run-on is more than a sentence because it combines two complete thoughts (independent clauses) without putting appropriate words or punctuation between them.

There are two types of run-on sentences:

  • Fused sentences
  • Comma splices

Fused Sentences

Fused sentences occur when two complete thoughts are run together without any punctuation.

Example

Example: My friends did not like the movie I did not see it.

Explanation: “My friends did not like the movie” is a complete thought. “I did not see it” is also a complete thought, but the sentences are run together (fused) without any punctuation.

There are several ways to correct fused sentences:

  1. Create two simple sentences:
    1. My friends did not like the movie. I did not see it.
  2. Create a compound sentence:
    1. My friends did not like the movie, but I did not see it. (Comma and FANBOYS)
    2. My friends did not like the movie; I did not see it. OR: My friends did not like the movie; therefore, I did not see it. (Semicolon OR semicolon and transition word)
  3. Create a complex sentence:
    1. Because my friends did not like the movie, I did not see it.
    2. I did not see the movie because my friends did not like it.

Many students’ first instinct is to add a comma (,) between the two complete thoughts. However, a comma is not a strong enough piece of punctuation to hold two complete thoughts together. Adding only a comma creates another type of run-on: the comma splice.

Comma Splices

A comma splice occurs when two complete thoughts are joined with only a comma. A comma is not a strong enough piece of punctuation to hold together two complete thoughts.

Example

Example: Carmen has a broken foot, she won’t go hiking this fall.

Explanation: “Carmen has a broken foot” is a complete thought. “She won’t go hiking this fall” is also a complete thought, but the sentences are spliced together without proper punctuation.

There are several ways to correct comma splices:

  1. Create two simple sentences:
    1. Carmen has a broken foot. She won’t go hiking this fall.
  2. Create a compound sentence:
    1. Carmen has a broken foot, so she won’t go hiking this fall. (Comma and FANBOYS)
    2. Carmen has a broken foot; she won’t go hiking this fall. OR Carmen has a broken foot; furthermore, she won’t go hiking this fall. (Semicolon OR semicolon and transition word)
  3. Create a complex sentence:
    1. Since Carmen has a broken foot, she won’t go hiking this fall.
    2. Carmen won’t go hiking this fall since she has a broken foot.

Sentence variety is important when correcting run-ons, so try to use various methods.

Exercise 9.6.1

On a separate sheet of paper, correct the following run-ons.

Try to use a variety of correction options (create simple, compound, and/or complex sentences; add a semicolon). One sentence is correct (write OK for that sentence).

1. Tavo wanted to go to the movies he asked two friends.

2. Khadija likes spring there are many flowers blooming.

3. A woman fainted in the restroom, I ran out to get help.

4. Our favorite dessert is tiramisu some people say it’s too sweet.

5. Jacob and Rob stole that money they should turn themselves in to the police.

6. My cousin is a doctor, she works with children.

7. The firefighters arrived quickly at the burning house it was too late.

8. The plane fare is too high you should fly on a different day.

9. Cristina graduated from college, she started looking for a job.

10. We lost the game even though we had practiced all week.

 

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Introduction to Composition Copyright © by Shelley Decker; Mary Kieser; Heather Moulton; and Peter Shipman is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted.

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