Run-On Sentences
What is a Run-On
Sentence?
A run-on sentence is 2 or
more sentences that are
NOT joined correctly.
Run-on sentences are a
COMMON mistake in writing!
BE ALERT!!!
Examples of Run-On
Sentences:
My dog ran down
the road after a cat
then I ran after him.
This sentence goes on
and on and on!
American Idol is
coming on TV soon I
am so excited to see
it again.
This sentence is
actually 2 sentences
thrown together!
More examples:
My little brother took
a candy bar from the
store my mom didn’t
let him play the Wii
for a week.
This is 2 sentences
thrown together!
I went to Disney
World last summer it
was so much fun.
This is 2 sentences
in one!
How to avoid Run-Ons
1) Put a period at the end
of the first sentence.
WRONG: My dog ran down the road
after a cat then I ran after him.
RIGHT: My dog ran down the road after
a cat. Then I ran after him.
How to Avoid Run-Ons
2) Use a comma and a conjunction to
combine the sentences correctly.
Conjunctions may be: for, and, nor, but,
or, yet, or so
WRONG: I went to Disney World last
summer it was so much fun.
RIGHT: I went to Disney World last
summer, and it was so much fun.
How to Avoid Run-Ons
3) Use a semicolon between the
sentences to combine them correctly.
WRONG: I saw my favorite band in
concert, they were so awesome!
RIGHT: I saw my favorite band in
concert; they were so awesome!