What is a “run-on” sentence?

From LitWiki

Run-on sentences

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. The other way to join the two independent clauses without having a run-on is to use either coordinating conjunctions or subordinating conjunctions. When using a coordinating conjunction, remeber this pattern [independent clause/ comma/ coordinating conjuntion/ indpendent clause]. Below is a list of ways to use coordinating conjunctures. Coordinating Conjunctures:

  • Use andto indicate the addition of the second independent clause