{"id":39,"date":"2022-07-13T16:54:02","date_gmt":"2022-07-13T20:54:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/communicating\/chapter\/run-on-sentences\/"},"modified":"2026-02-06T12:06:40","modified_gmt":"2026-02-06T17:06:40","slug":"chapter-9","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/communicating\/chapter\/chapter-9\/","title":{"raw":"Run-on Sentences","rendered":"Run-on Sentences"},"content":{"raw":"Another common error in student writing is the run-on sentence.<\/strong>\r\n

The basics<\/h2>\r\n
\r\n\r\nJust as short, incomplete sentences can be problematic, lengthy sentences can be problematic, too.\r\n\r\nAs writers, we want to ensure our sentences always form a complete idea to avoid confusion for our reader. A \"complete sentence\" is also known as an [pb_glossary id=\"244\"]independent clause[\/pb_glossary],<\/strong> which we learned about in the previous chapter. Here's an example:\r\n
I have to complete my project by tomorrow. It is worth 30% of my grade.<\/div>\r\nBoth sentences are independent clauses. They both express a complete idea.\r\n\r\nHowever, many people make mistakes when they incorrectly combine two or more independent clauses. This is what is known as a run-on sentence.\r\n\r\nA [pb_glossary id=\"233\"]run-on sentence<\/strong>[\/pb_glossary] can take two main forms. Read the examples below and see if you can identify what is wrong with each.\r\n
Example #1<\/strong>: I have to complete my project by tomorrow it is worth 30% of my grade.\r\n\r\nExample #2:<\/strong> I have to complete my project by tomorrow, it is worth 30% of my grade.<\/div>\r\nExample #1 is known as a [pb_glossary id=\"203\"]fused sentence[\/pb_glossary]<\/strong>. This means that two independent clauses are combined without any punctuation.\r\n\r\nExample #2 is known as [pb_glossary id=\"239\"]comma splice[\/pb_glossary]<\/strong><\/span>. This means that two independent clauses are incorrectly joined by a comma.<\/span>\r\n\r\nLook at two more examples below. Can you tell which one is a fused sentence <\/strong>and which is a comma splice<\/strong>?\r\n
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\r\n\r\nExample #1: <\/strong>We looked outside, the kids were hopping on the trampoline.\r\n\r\nExample #2: <\/strong>A family of foxes lived under our shed young foxes play all over the yard.\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n
\r\n\r\nExample #1 is a comma splice.<\/strong> Example #2 is a fused sentence<\/strong>. Let's do some more practice identifying the two.\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n
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Fixes for run-on sentences<\/h2>\r\nWhile [pb_glossary id=\"233\"]run-on sentences[\/pb_glossary]<\/strong>\u00a0are extremely common, they are also easily fixed by<\/span> using punctuation, [pb_glossary id=\"242\"]coordinating conjunctions[\/pb_glossary], or [pb_glossary id=\"250\"]subordinate conjunctions[\/pb_glossary].\r\n
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Punctuation<\/h2>\r\nA period and a semicolon are the most common punctuation marks used to fix run-on sentences<\/strong>.\r\n\r\nA period will correct the error by creating two separate sentences.\r\n
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Run-on:<\/strong>\u00a0There were no seats left, we had to stand in the back.<\/p>\r\n

Complete Sentence:<\/strong>\u00a0There were no seats left.\u00a0We had to stand in the back.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\nUsing a semicolon between the two complete sentences will also correct the error. A semicolon allows you to keep two closely related ideas together in one sentence. When you punctuate with a semicolon, make sure that both parts of the sentence are [pb_glossary id=\"244\"]independent clauses[\/pb_glossary]<\/strong>.\r\n

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Run-on:<\/strong>\u00a0The accident closed both lanes of traffic we waited an hour for the wreckage to be cleared.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

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Complete Sentence:<\/strong>\u00a0The accident closed both lanes of traffic;<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span>we waited an hour for the wreckage to be cleared.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\nMake sure that both ideas are closely related before you use a semicolon<\/em>. If they are not related, you should not use a semicolon.\r\n\r\nFor example, a semicolon shouldn't be used in the following sentence because both ideas are not related:\r\n

Incorrect Semicolon Use: <\/strong>The accident closed both lanes of traffic;<\/strong> we ate fast food for dinner.<\/div>\r\nNow, you might be saying, \"What if they ate fast food because of the accident? Wouldn't the two sentences be related then?\"\r\n\r\nIn such a case, you may be right. But it falls on the writer to make that distinction clear to the reader. It's your job<\/strong> to make sure the connection between your ideas is clear. This can be done with [pb_glossary id=\"232\"]transition words[\/pb_glossary]<\/strong>.\r\n\r\nWhen you use a semicolon to separate two independent clauses, you may wish to add a transition word<\/a> to show the connection between the two thoughts.\r\n\r\nAfter the semicolon, add the transition word and follow it with a comma:\r\n
\r\n\r\nRun-on:<\/strong>\u00a0The project was put on hold we didn\u2019t have time to slow down, so we kept working.\r\n\r\nComplete Sentence:<\/strong>\u00a0The project was put on hold;\u00a0however<\/em>,<\/span> we didn\u2019t have time to slow down, so we kept working.\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\nWe can also apply this to our incorrect example above:\r\n
\r\n\r\nIncorrect Semicolon Use: <\/strong>The accident closed both lanes of traffic;<\/strong> we ate fast food for dinner.\r\n\r\nCorrect Semicolon Use<\/strong>: The accident closed both lanes of traffic;<\/strong> therefore,<\/span> we ate fast food for dinner.\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n
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Coordinating conjunctions<\/h2>\r\n
\r\n\r\nYou can also fix run-on sentences<\/strong> by adding a comma and a\u00a0[pb_glossary id=\"242\"]coordinating conjunction[\/pb_glossary]<\/span><\/span>.<\/strong>\r\n\r\nRemember, a coordinating conjunction<\/strong><\/a> acts as a link between two clauses.\r\n
These are the seven coordinating conjunctions<\/strong> that you can use: <\/span>for<\/em>,\u00a0<\/span>and<\/em>,\u00a0<\/span>nor<\/em>,\u00a0<\/span>but<\/em>,\u00a0<\/span>or<\/em>,\u00a0<\/span>yet<\/em>, and\u00a0<\/span>so<\/em>. <\/span><\/div>\r\nUse these words appropriately when you want to link the two independent clauses.\u00a0<\/span>\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n
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Run-on:<\/strong>\u00a0The new printer was installed, no one knew how to use it.<\/p>\r\n

Complete Sentence:<\/strong>\u00a0The new printer was installed,\u00a0<\/strong>but<\/em> <\/span>no one knew how to use it.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n

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Subordinate conjunctions<\/h2>\r\n<\/div>\r\n
\r\n\r\nAdding [pb_glossary id=\"250\"]subordinate conjunctions[\/pb_glossary]<\/strong> is another way to link independent clauses. As with coordinating conjunctions<\/strong>, subordinate conjunctions<\/strong> show a relationship between two independent clauses. There are many different subordinate conjunctions<\/strong>. Check out this link<\/a> to see a list.\r\n
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Run-on:<\/strong>\u00a0We took the elevator, the others still got there before us.<\/p>\r\n

Complete Sentence: <\/strong>Although<\/em><\/span>\u00a0we took the elevator, the others got there before us.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\nIn the example above, the run-on is a [pb_glossary id=\"239\"]comma splice[\/pb_glossary]<\/strong>, which results from joining two complete ideas with a comma. In the correct example, the subordinating conjunction \"although\" appears at the start to show the relationship between the sentences. Now it's okay to combine both sentences with a comma.\r\n\r\nHere's another example:\r\n

\r\n\r\nRun-on:<\/strong> Cobwebs covered the furniture the room hadn\u2019t been used in years.<\/span>\r\n
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\r\n\r\nComplete sentence:<\/strong>\u00a0Cobwebs covered the furniture\u00a0because<\/em><\/span> the room hadn\u2019t been used in years.\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n
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\r\n\r\nIn this example, the run-on is a [pb_glossary id=\"203\"]fused sentence[\/pb_glossary]<\/strong>. We fixed this issue by inserting the subordinate conjunction<\/strong> \"because\" in between both sentences.\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n \r\n\r\n[h5p id=\"11\"]\r\n\r\n \r\n
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Key Takeaways<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/header>\r\n

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