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

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


A [[What are “conjunctive adverbs”?|transitional word]] might also help the sentence flow and clarity (Faigley 581):
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 milk.
: I purchased most of what I needed at the store; however, they were out of milk.


=== Comma and Coordinating Conjunction ===
=== 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 milk.


=== Subordinating Clause ===
=== 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 milk.


=== Sentences ===
=== 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 milk.


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


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