Run-On Sentences

What is a run-on?

Run-on sentences

A run-on sentence is a grammatical error that occurs when punctuation is missing at the end of a sentence, causing it to fuse with the sentence that comes after it.

Example of a run-on sentence:

• Incorrect: I climbed up the mountain the view at the top was breathtaking.

A run-on sentence can be fixed by separating the two independent clauses with a semicolon.

• Correct: I climbed up the mountain; the view at the top was breathtaking.
• Note: This is appropriate use of a semicolon because the two sentences are closely related.

A run-on sentence can be fixed by separating the two independent clauses into two sentences.

• Correct: I climbed up the mountain. The view at the top was breathtaking.
• Note: While this is grammatically correct, a semicolon would be more appropriate because the two sentences are closely related.

A run-on sentence can be fixed by separating the two independent clauses with a comma and a coordinating conjunction.

• Correct: I climbed up the mountain, and the view at the top was breathtaking.

Comma splices

A comma splice is a grammatical error that occurs when a comma is used to incorrectly combine two independent clauses into a single sentence.

Example of a comma splice:

Incorrect: I climbed up the mountain, the view at the top was breathtaking.

Three options for correcting a comma splice:

1. A comma splice can be fixed by separating the two independent clauses into two sentences.

Correct: I climbed up the mountain. The view at the top was breathtaking.

2. A comma splice can be fixed by separating the two independent clauses with a semicolon.

Correct: I climbed up the mountain; the view at the top was breathtaking.

3. A comma splice can be fixed by separating the two independent clauses with a comma and a coordinating conjunction.

Correct: I climbed up the mountain, and the view at the top was breathtaking.