What is a “run-on” sentence?: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 23:45, 11 July 2013

Run-on sentences or "fused sentences" contain two independent clauses incorrectly joined (Hacker 200). While a sentence fragment is an incomplete sentence, a run-on jams together two or more sentences without the correct punctuation (Faigley 579).

Two types of run-on sentences:

Comma splice:

When two independent clauses are connected by a comma, this run-on is called a comma splice (Hult 721).

Example:

I purchased most of what I needed at the store, they were out of bread.

Fused sentence:

When there is no comma, the run-on sentence is fused (Hacker 200).

Examples:

I purchased most of what I needed at the store they were out of bread.

A run-on can be a short sentence. Just because a sentence is long, though, does not necessarily make it a run-on.

Example: Nothing is on television I should turn it off.

The Rules

Ways to avoid a run-on sentence:

Separate the clauses with a semicolon — or a colon or dash, when appropriate (Hacker 202).
Insert a comma and a coordinating conjunction between the clauses (Faigley 581).
Turn one clause into a subordinating clause (Hult 722).
Make the clauses into separate sentences (Hacker 202).

Usage

Semicolon

If the clauses are equally important, use a semicolon to separate them (Hult 723).

I purchased most of what I needed at the store; they were out of bread.

A transitional word might also help sentence flow and clarity (Faigley 581; Hacker 204):

I purchased most of what I needed at the store; however, they were out of bread.

Comma and Coordinating Conjunction

The easiest, and frequently the best, way of correcting the run-on sentence is by using a comma and a coordinating conjuction. There are seven to choose from: for, and, nor, but, or, yet (Hacker 202).

I purchased most of what I needed at the store, but they were out of bread.

Subordinating Clause

Another option would be to subordinate one of the clauses (Hacker 205).

I purchased most of what I needed at the store, although they were out of bread.

Sentences

Simply making each independent clause a sentence also easily fixes a run-on.

I purchased most of what I needed at the store. They were out of bread.

Links

References

Faigley, Lester. The Penguin Handbook. New York: Longman, 2003.
Hacker, Diana. A Writer's Reference. 5th Ed. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin's, 2003.
Hult, Christine A. and Thomas N. Hucklin. The New Century Handbook. 3rd Ed. New York: Longman, 2005.

Composition FAQ

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-== Run-on sentences ==
+Run-on sentences or "fused sentences" contain two independent clauses incorrectly joined (Hacker 200). While a [[What is a “sentence fragment”?|sentence fragment]] is an incomplete sentence, a run-on jams together two or more sentences without the correct punctuation (Faigley 579).
-Run-on sentences, also known as "fused sentences", contain two independent clauses, either of which can stand by itself. When these two independent clauses are connected by a comma, it is known as a comma splice. When there is no comma, these clauses become harder to recognize. Another point about run-on sentences is that it really doesn't matter about the length of the sentence. A run-on can be a very short sentence, such as "Nothing is on television, I should turn it off,". Just because a sentence is very long, though, it does not necessarily mean that it is a run-on. On one of the works I have cited below will have a link to a 239 word sentence. This quite long sentence is strucually correct, although it is not something you might want to use too much on papers or on-line entries. There are, of course, many ways to avoid a run-on sentence. A really easy way to join the two independent clauses together is by a semicolon. When using a semicolon, though, you must remember that the two ideas have to be closely related to one another.
+Two types of run-on sentences:
+:'''Comma splice''':
+::When two independent clauses are connected by a comma, this run-on is called a [[What is a “comma splice”?|comma splice]] (Hult 721).
+:::'''Example:'''
+::::I purchased most of what I needed at the store, they were out of bread.
+:'''Fused sentence''':
+::When there is no comma, the run-on sentence is ''fused'' (Hacker 200).
+:::'''Examples:'''
+::::I purchased most of what I needed at the store they were out of bread.
+A run-on can be a short sentence. Just because a sentence is long, though, does not necessarily make it a run-on.
+:'''Example:''' Nothing is on television I should turn it off.
+== The Rules ==
+Ways to avoid a run-on sentence:
+# Separate the clauses with a [[How do you use a semicolon?|semicolon]] — or a colon or dash, when appropriate (Hacker 202).
+# Insert a comma and a [[What are “coordinating conjunctions”?|coordinating conjunction]] between the clauses (Faigley 581).
+# Turn one clause into a [[What are “subordinating conjunctions”?|subordinating clause]] (Hult 722).
+# Make the clauses into separate sentences (Hacker 202).
+== Usage ==
+=== Semicolon ===
+:If the clauses are equally important, use a semicolon to separate them (Hult 723).
+::I purchased most of what I needed at the store; they were out of bread.
+:A [[What are “conjunctive adverbs”?|transitional word]] might also help sentence flow and clarity (Faigley 581; Hacker 204):
+::I purchased most of what I needed at the store; however, they were out of bread.
+=== Comma and Coordinating Conjunction ===
+:The easiest, and frequently the best, way of correcting the run-on sentence is by using a comma and a coordinating conjuction. There are seven to choose from: for, and, nor, but, or, yet (Hacker 202).
+::I purchased most of what I needed at the store, but they were out of bread.
+=== Subordinating Clause ===
+:Another option would be to subordinate one of the clauses (Hacker 205).
+::I purchased most of what I needed at the store, although they were out of bread.
+=== Sentences ===
+:Simply making each independent clause a sentence also easily fixes a run-on.
+::I purchased most of what I needed at the store. They were out of bread.
+== Links ==
+*[http://www.tillyer.net/GLOW/fsi167.htm Grammar Lessons On the Web]
+*[http://ace.acadiau.ca/english/grammar/runon.htm The Grammar Outlaw]
+*[http://webster.commnet.edu/grammar/runons.htm Run-on Sentences]
+*[http://www.stevens.edu/wit/grammar/run-on_sentences.shtml Writing Instruction Tutorial]
+== References ==
+# Faigley, Lester. ''The Penguin Handbook.'' New York: Longman, 2003.
+# Hacker, Diana. ''A Writer's Reference.'' 5th Ed. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin's, 2003.
+# Hult, Christine A. and Thomas N. Hucklin. ''The New Century Handbook.'' 3rd Ed. New York: Longman, 2005.
+----
+[[Composition FAQ]]
+[[Category:Composition]]