RUN-ON SENTENCES
What are run-on sentences?
A run-on sentence is a sentence in which there are independent clauses that have not
been joined properly. While some run-on sentences are long, not all run-on sentences
are long. It is possible to join two independent clauses incorrectly in a short sentence.
While some long sentences are run-on sentences, not all long sentences are run-ons. It
is possible to write a long sentence in which all the independent and dependent clauses
are joined properly.
She ran she thought about her exam. (run-on sentence)
While she ran, she thought about her exam and she worried that she hadn’t done well,
having been up so late the night before worrying about her grade point average and
how a low average could lessen her chances of getting into medical school, which was
her biggest dream. (correct sentence)
An independent clause is a subject and verb pairing that can stand alone as a
sentence because together they express a complete thought.
She ran.
A dependent clause is a phrase that can’t stand alone as a sentence as it doesn’t
express a complete thought. Sometimes a clause is dependent because it lacks either
a subject or a verb. Sometimes a clause is dependent because a coordinating
conjunction makes the subject and verb pairing dependent on another thought.
Running and thinking about her exam, she worried that she had not done well. (no
subject-verb)
She thought about her exam while she ran.. (coordinating conjunction)
How do I recognize a run-on sentence?
Look for independent clauses. If there is more than one independent clause in a
sentence, look for the coordinating conjunction that joins the independent clauses. If
there is not a coordinating conjunction, then look for a semi-colon, and perhaps a
transitional phrase, that joins the independent clauses. If there is not a coordinating
conjunction or semi-colon joining the independent clauses, then you have found a runon sentence.
The Seven Coordinating Conjunctions in English
and
but
or
nor
for
so
yet
How do I fix a run-on sentence?
1. Use a comma and a coordinating conjunction to join the independent clauses.
She ran, and she thought about her exam.
2. Use a semi-colon to join the independent clauses.
She ran; she thought about her exam.
3. Use a semi-colon and a transitional expression to join the independent clauses.
She ran; still, she thought about her exam.
4. Make one of the independent clauses dependent.
She ran, thinking about her exam.
5. Use a colon to join the independent clauses if the second clause explains or
summarizes the first:
She ran: she thought about her exam the whole run.
6. Separate the independent clauses into sentences.
She ran. She thought about her exam.
Transitional Expressions
also
as a result
besides
consequently
finally
for example
furthermore
hence
however
in addition
indeed
in fact
in other words
in the first place
meanwhile
moreover
nevertheless
next
now
of course
on the other hand
otherwise
similarly
still
then
therefore
thus
© Jennifer Duncan. The Writing Centre, University of Toronto at Scarborough. See terms and conditions for use at
http://www.utsc.utoronto.ca/~tlsweb/TWC/webresources/terms.htm