run-on sentences

The common conjunctive adverbs show that you are continuing a thought (furthermore, moreover), offering a contrast (however, nonetheless, still), or showing a result (accordingly, consequently, then, therefore, thus).

- I loathed my job more than I loved the paycheck; consequently, I quit work and returned to college. - After three days of rain, I was tempted to abandon the hike. Nevertheless, on the fourth day I took bearings from my compass and set out due west toward Cedar Bay. Remember that a conjunctive adverb between two main clauses should be preceded by a semicolon or period. It is usually followed by a comma.

"If you are uncertain whether a connecting word is a conjunctive adverb, test by moving the connecting word to another place in the clause. Conjunctive adverbs can be moved; subordinating conjunctions (such as if and because) and coordinating conjunctions (but, or, yet, for, and, nor, so) cannot." (Stephen Reid, The Prentice Hall Guide for College Writers, 2003)

...

Instructions: Correct each run-on sentence below in two different ways. For the first five run-ons, follow the instructions in parenthesis. For the last five, decide for yourself how to correct the faulty sentences effectively.

...

The simplest way to correct a run-on sentence (also known as a fused sentence) is with a mark of punctuation--a period or semicolon.

...

1. Most smoke detectors have a test button, this button may test only the sounding device and not the working components. (a) Coordinate the two main clauses. (b) Turn the first main clause into an adverb clause beginning with "although." 2. Sunlight flooded the room the pianos, all black, gleamed. (a) Coordinate the two main clauses. (b) Separate the two main clauses with a semicolon. 3. Karen's brother kills flies for turtle food her sister repairs screen doors on submarines. (a) Coordinate the two main clauses. (b) Separate the two main clauses with a semicolon. 4. We walked back to the big house, it had been built by my great-grandfather almost a century ago. (a) Turn the second main clause into an adjective clause. (b) Turn the second main clause into a past participle phrase beginning with "built." 5. I gave your paycheck to Butch he told me you had sent him. (a) Turn the second main clause into an adjective clause. (b) Turn the second main clause into an adverb clause beginning with "because."

1. (a) Most smoke detectors have a test button, but this button may test only the sounding device and not the working components. (b) Although most smoke detectors have a test button, it may test only the sounding device and not the working components. 2. (a) Sunlight flooded the room, and the pianos, all black, gleamed. (b) Sunlight flooded the room; the pianos, all black, gleamed. 3. (a) Karen's brother kills flies for turtle food, and her sister repairs screen doors on submarines. (b) Karen's brother kills flies for turtle food; her sister repairs screen doors on submarines. 4. (a) We walked back to the big house, which had been built by my great-grandfather almost a century ago. (b) We walked back to the big house, built by my great-grandfather almost a century ago. 5. (a) I gave your paycheck to Butch, who told me you had sent him. (b) I gave your paycheck to Butch because he told me you had sent him.

Exercise in Correcting Run-on Sentences With Periods or Semicolons

1. A jump rope is the ultimate aerobic exercise it provides a top-notch daily workout. 2. My teacher never missed a day of school I think even the flu and the common cold were afraid of that lady. 3. Experience is not what happens to you it is what you do with what happens to you. 4. A low blood-sugar level signals hunger a higher one tells the brain that you don't need to eat. 5. A lobotomy is a fairly simple operation however amateurs should not attempt it. 6. Fifty years ago, parents were apt to have several children nowadays children are apt to have several parents. 7. Humor is a rubber sword it allows you to make a point without drawing blood. 8. Black magic is meant to harm or destroy white magic is intended to benefit an individual or the community. 9. Carefully open the can of soup empty the contents of the can into a saucepan and stir gently. 10. It's not enough to hear opportunity knock you must let him in, make friends, and work together with him.

Answers

1. A jump rope is the ultimate aerobic exercise. It [or ; it] provides a top-notch daily workout. 2. My teacher never missed a day of school. I [or ; I] think even the flu and the common cold were afraid of that lady. 3. Experience is not what happens to you. It [or ; it] is what you do with what happens to you. 4. A low blood-sugar level signals hunger. A [or ; A] higher one tells the brain that you don't need to eat. 5. A lobotomy is a fairly simple operation. However, [or ; however,] amateurs should not attempt it. 6. Fifty years ago, parents were apt to have several children. Nowadays [or ; nowadays] children are apt to have several parents. 7. Humor is a rubber sword. It [or ; it] allows you to make a point without drawing blood. 8. Black magic is meant to harm or destroy. White [or ; white] magic is intended to benefit an individual or the community. 9. Carefully open the can of soup. Empty [or ; empty] the contents of the can into a saucepan and stir gently. 10. It's not enough to hear opportunity knock. You [or ; you] must let him in, make friends, and work together with him.

Answers

1. Correct 2. Run-on I drove a thousand miles to visit Jane, but she wasn't home. or After driving a thousand miles to visit Jane, I discovered that she wasn't home. 3. Run-on Some students insist on taking all their classes in the morning; others prefer to attend night classes. or While some students insist on taking all their classes in the morning, others prefer to attend night classes. 4. Correct 5. Correct 6. Run-on Lubby searched the sky for flying saucers. The gray sky looked as if it had been rubbed with a dirty eraser. or Lubby searched the gray sky for flying saucers. It looked as if it had been rubbed with a dirty eraser. 7. Run-on Most of my friends have left town. Jenny, for example, has moved to Watertown. or Most of my friends have left town. For example, Jenny has moved to Watertown. 8. Run-on I looked for the can opener, but it had disappeared. or I looked for the can opener. It had disappeared. 9. Correct 10. Run-on Rick has a dollar, but he won't lend it to me. or Although Rick has a dollar, he won't lend it to me.

Identifying and Correcting Run-On Sentences

1. We stayed at the Stratford Inn, which had recently been renovated. 2. I drove a thousand miles to visit Jane, she wasn't home. 3. Some students insist on taking all their classes in the morning, others prefer to attend night classes. 4. After watching an episode of Glee, we downloaded a song by Cee Lo Green. 5. All afternoon he lay on the couch, eating Cheez-Its, sipping Red Bull, and watching YouTube videos on his iPad. 6. Lubby searched the sky for flying saucers, the gray sky looked as if it had been rubbed with a dirty eraser. 7. Most of my friends have left town, Jenny, for example, has moved to Watertown. 8. I looked for the can opener it had disappeared. 9. The man who can smile when something has gone wrong has thought of someone he can blame it on. 10. Rick has a dollar, he won't lend it to me.

6. We returned from our vacation the dog was missing. 7. The gardens are dry the road to the shore is dusty. 8. Don't carry your house keys in your wallet a pickpocket then has easy access to your house. 9. Nobody knows for certain how many games Bull Cyclone won the best detective efforts put his record at 97-62-3. 10. The biggest influence on Bobo's life was his mother she was the owner of a local hardware store.

6. (a) We returned from our vacation, and the dog was missing. (b) When we returned from our vacation, the dog was missing. 7. (a) The gardens are dry, and the road to the shore is dusty. (b) The gardens are dry; the road to the shore is dusty. 8. (a) Don't carry your house keys in your wallet, because then a pickpocket has easy access to your house. (b) If you carry your house keys in your wallet, a pickpocket has easy access to your house. 9. (a) Nobody knows for certain how many games Bull Cyclone won, but the best detective efforts put his record at 97-62-3. (b) Although nobody knows for certain how many games Bull Cyclone won, the best detective efforts put his record at 97-62-3. 10. (a) The biggest influence on Bobo's life was his mother, who was the owner of a local hardware store. (b) The biggest influence on Bobo's life was his mother, the owner of a local hardware store.

Adding a Conjunctive Adverb

Although a period or semicolon will correct a run-on sentence, a mark of punctuation alone won't explain how the second main clause relates to the first one. To make this relationship clear, you can follow the period or semicolon with a conjunctive adverb--that is, a transitional expression that introduces a main clause.

Correcting a Run-on Sentence With a Semicolon

Another way to separate two main clauses is with a semicolon:

Run-on Sentence Merdine is a skilled carpenter she single-handedly built a two-story log cabin.

Corrected Merdine is a skilled carpenter. She single-handedly built a two-story log cabin. Inserting a period at the end of the first main clause is often the best way to correct a long run-on sentence.

Run-on Sentence Merdine is a skilled carpenter she single-handedly built a two-story log cabin.

Corrected Merdine is a skilled carpenter; she single-handedly built a two-story log cabin. Be careful not to overwork the semicolon. The mark is most often used between two main clauses that are closely related in meaning and grammatical form.

Run-on Sentence Most feet aren't very good looking for ugliness mine have always been in a class by themselves.

Corrected Through Coordination Most feet aren't very good looking, but for ugliness mine have always been in a class by themselves.

conjunctive adverb

Definition: An adverb that indicates the relationship in meaning between two independent clauses.

Correcting a Run-on Sentence Through Subordination

If the two main clauses in a run-on sentence are not of equal importance, try subordinating one of them. That is, turn the clause of lesser significance into an adjective clause or an adverb clause.

Correcting a Run-on Sentence Through Coordination

If you have run together two main clauses that are roughly equal in importance, try fixing the problem by coordinating them. Between the two main clauses put a comma and a coordinating conjunction: and, but, yet, or, nor, for, or so.

Definition:

In prescriptive grammar, two independent clauses that have been run together without an appropriate conjunction and/or mark of punctuation between them.

Run-on Sentence Last night I had my first taste of sake it is a Japanese beverage made from rice. Corrected Through Subordination With an Adjective Clause Last night I had my first taste of sake, which is a Japanese beverage made from rice.

Run-on Sentence A Frenchman murdered two wives he didn't like their cooking. Corrected Through Subordination With an Adverb Clause A Frenchman murdered two wives because he didn't like their cooking.

Correcting a Run-on Sentence With a Period

To make two separate sentences out of a run-on, put a period at the end of the first main clause and begin the second main clause with a capital letter:

Common Conjunctive Adverbs:

accordingly afterward also anyhow anyway as a result at last at the same time besides certainly consequently earlier eventually finally for example for instance further furthermore hence however in addition in any case incidentally indeed in fact in short instead in the meantime later likewise meanwhile moreover namely nevertheless next now on the contrary on the other hand otherwise perhaps similarly so still subsequently that is then therefore thus

two kinds of run-on sentences:

fused sentences and comma splices