- Effective Writing Practices Tutorial
- Punctuation
- Run-on Sentences
Run-on Sentences
This tutorial is no longer being actively updated and will remain available until the end of the Spring 2025 semester. After that time, it will be taken down. Please note that some content may be outdated or no longer relevant.
A run-on sentence occurs when two independent clauses run together without proper punctuation or appropriate conjunctions.
Incorrect: Raffi sings upbeat children's songs he is an excellent musician.
Correcting the Problem
Correct: Raffi sings upbeat children's songs; he is an excellent musician.
A more common run-on sentence, as in the example below, uses a transitional expression, but without necessary punctuation.
Rule To Remember
A run-on sentence occurs when two independent clauses run together without proper punctuation or appropriate conjunctions.
Incorrect: Helen cooked dinner therefore Ralph will wash the dishes.
Correct: Helen cooked dinner; therefore, Ralph will wash the dishes.
There are several ways to correct a run-on sentence. Before deciding how to fix a run-on, however, examine the clauses that make up the sentence.
Decide what the main purpose of the sentence is, then choose one of the following methods to rewrite the sentence for clarity:
- Divide clauses into two sentences
- Insert a semicolon between the two clauses
- Use a comma with either a coordinating or subordinating conjunction
Correct Run-on Sentences By
Dividing the clauses into two sentences by inserting a period between them.
Incorrect: Mary came home from work early we worked hard on our project.
Correct: Mary came home from work early. We worked hard on our project.
Inserting a semicolon between them, if the two clauses are very closely related.
Incorrect: Mary came home from work early she had been feeling ill all morning.
Correct: Mary came home from work early; she had been feeling ill all morning.
Using a comma with a coordinating conjunction to separate the clauses. The coordinating conjunctions are: and, but, or, so, for, yet, nor.
Incorrect: I was too tired to go to the store the guys shopped for three hours.
Correct: I was too tired to go to the store, but the guys shopped for three hours.
Adding a subordinating conjunction to make one sentence out of the two clauses. Some subordinating conjunctions are: when, while, because, as, although, if, though, since.
Incorrect: I will watch The Office you do your homework.
Correct: I will watch The Office while you do your homework.
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