Run-ons - Comma Splices - Fused Sentences



What Is a Run-On Sentence?

How Can You Fix a Run-On Sentence?

A run-on sentence consists of two or more main clauses that are run together without proper punctuation. Sometimes even sentences which are technically correct are easier to read if they are made into shorter sentences.

Repairing Run-On Sentences 


1. Judy leads a charmed life she never seems to have a serious accident.
    This sentence is correct 
    life, she 
    life; she 
    Responses:

2. The airport is about to shut down because of the snow and if the plane doesn't land soon it will have to go on to Boston.
    This sentence is correct 
    snow, and 
    snow; and 
    snow. And 
    Responses:

3. The show begins at 7:30 make sure you're there before 7:15.
    This sentence is correct 
    7:30, make 
    7:30. Make 
    Responses:

4. Marcellino always knew his way around the woods this is something he could always depend on.
    This sentence is correct 
    woods; this 
    woods, this 
    Responses:

5. Having prepared himself well for the realtor exams and having exhausted everyone in the family with his requests that someone help him with the true-and-false drills, Jeffrey, who had never been a particularly good student in high school, knew he was ready to take on the greatest challenge of his life.
    This sentence is correct 
    drills; Jeffrey 
    Jeffrey -- who had never been a particularly good student in high school -- knew 
    Responses:

Questions 5 through 10 are based on an exercise on Fused Sentences in The Little, Brown Handbook by H. Ramsay Fowler and Jane E. Aaron, & Kay Limburg. 5th ed. HarperCollins: New York. 1995 (289). By permission of Addison-Wesley Educational Publishers Inc.

6. Throughout history money and religion were closely linked there was little distinction between government and religion.
    This sentence is correct 
    linked because there was 
    linked, there was 
    Responses:

7. The head of state and the religious leader were often the same person all power rested in one ruler.
    This sentence is correct 
    person, all 
    person; all 
    Responses:

8. These powerful leaders decided what objects would serve as money their backing encouraged public faith in the money.
    This sentence is correct 
    money. Their 
    money, their 
    Responses:

9. Coins were minted of precious metals the religious overtones of money were then strengthened.
    This sentence is correct 
    metals, the 
    When coins were minted of precious metals, the . . . . 
    Responses:

10. People already believed the precious metals to be divine so their use in money intensified its allure.
    This sentence is correct 
    divine, so 
    divine; so 
    divine their

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http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/quizzes/runons_quiz.htm

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Summary: This handout defines dependent and independent clauses and explores how they are treated in standard usage.



Run-ons, comma splices, and fused sentences are all names given to compound sentences that are not punctuated correctly. The best way to avoid such errors is to punctuate compound sentences correctly by using one or the other of these rules.

1. Join the two independent clauses with one of the coordinating conjunctions (and, but, for, or, nor, so, yet), and use a comma before the connecting word.

_________________________, and _________________________.
He enjoys walking through the country, and he often goes backpacking on his vacations.

2. When you do not have a connecting word (or when you use a connecting word other than and, but, for, or nor, so, or yet between the two independent clauses) use a semicolon (;).

__________________________;_____________________________.
He often watched TV when there were only reruns; she preferred to read instead.

or

__________________________; however,____________________.
He often watched TV when there were only reruns; however, she preferred to read instead.

So, run-ons and fused sentences are terms describing two independent clauses which are joined together with no connecting word or punctuation to separate the clauses.
Incorrect: They weren't dangerous criminals they were detectives in disguise.
Correct: They weren't dangerous criminals; they were detectives in disguise.
Incorrect: I didn't know which job I wanted I was too confused to decide.
Correct: I didn't know which job I wanted, and I was too confused to decide.