Run-on Sentences

A run-on results when two sentences (called “independent clauses”) are joined without
correct punctuation.

Comma Splice Run-ons

When two independent sentences are separated by a comma instead of a period, the re-
sult is called a comma splice.
Incorrect: Swimming is good exercise, I do it every morning.
Incorrect: I still haven’t figured out Spanish, I’ve been studying it for years.
Incorrect: I have been waiting here for one hour, I’m going home.

Fix Option # 1: Join the independent clauses with coordinating conjunction (also called
a FANBOYS conjunction: For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So). A comma should be placed
before the FANBOYS conjunction.
Correct: Swimming is good exercise, so I do it every morning.
Correct: I still haven’t figured out Spanish, and I’ve been studying it for years.
Correct: I have been waiting here for one hour, so I’m going home.

Fix Option #2: Separate the sentences with a period.

Correct: Swimming is good exercise. I do it every morning.
Correct: I still haven’t figured out Spanish. I’ve been studying it for years.
Correct: I have been waiting here for one hour. I’m going home.
24  │  Run-on Sentences

Fix Option #3: Use a semicolon to separate the two sentences. A semicolon acts in the
same way as a period in that it separates two complete sentences, but it indicates
a close relationship between the sentences.
Correct: Swimming is good exercise; I do it every morning.
Correct: I still haven’t figured out Spanish; I’ve been studying it for years.
Correct: I have been waiting here for one hour; I’m going home.

Fused Sentence Run-ons

Sometimes two independent sentences are run together without punctuation or a con-
junction. These are called fused sentences. You can fix fused sentences using the same
options described in the “comma splices” section above.
Incorrect: I hope to see a movie this weekend there is a new one in the dollar
theater.

Fix Option #1: Add a conjunction to join the sentences. (In this example the conjunction
does not need a comma because it is a subordinating conjunction.)
Correct: I hope to see a movie this weekend because there is a new one in the
dollar theater.

Fix Option #2: Separate the sentences with a period.

Correct: I hope to see a movie this weekend. There is a new one in the dollar
theater.

Fix Option #3: Use a semicolon to indicate a close relationship between the two sen-
tences.

Correct: I hope to see a movie this weekend; there is a new one in the dollar the-
ater.
 Run-on Sentences  │ 25 

Run-ons—Exercise A
Underline the group of words where the comma splice or fused sentence occurs. Once
you have identified the run-ons, correct them.
They did it again why do people keep doing this? All I’m asking for is that my
roommates show a little courtesy. Why can’t they place the toilet paper roll on the
correct way it’s not that hard! You just take the toilet paper, unhinge the bar, and
slip the roll on with the squares facing you. Why would anyone in their right mind
place the squares on the wall side? It makes restroom breaks so stressful, you have
to then awkwardly reach your hand up through the bar to grab the paper and then
rip it off while making sure you don’t unwind the whole roll. I swear if this hap-
pens again, I’m going to be the one unwound.

Run-ons—Exercise B
Underline the portion of the sentence where the comma splice or fused sentence occurs.
Once you have identified the run-ons, correct them.
My ideal vacation involves going somewhere interesting, and then not doing
much at all. I don’t like busy vacations I don’t want to feel like I have to take a
vacation from my vacation. I like rest for example, I would love to visit Italy, but
touring the famous sites wouldn’t be my idea of fun. I would rather rent a little
villa in the country or along the coast I would just live like a local for a few weeks.
The Vatican, the Parthenon, and the Leaning Tower have been around for a while,
they can wait a little longer for me to see them. Some may call it boring, I call it
actually getting some much needed rest.

Run-ons—Exercise C
Underline the portion of the sentence where the comma splice or fused sentence occurs.
Once you have identified the run-ons, correct them.
The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein is more than just a children’s book, it encom-
passes so much about how I want to live my life and raise my children. The themes
of service, sacrifice, and simplicity can be incorporated into any part of my life, the
tree serves this little boy his entire life and loves him with every branch and leaf
it ever gave. In contrast, as the little boy grows and becomes more ambitious, he
only finds discontentment. The Giving Tree shows why service and contentment
26  │  Run-on Sentences

with the simple things are such key aspects of being truly happy, that’s why I read
this book once a year.

Run-ons—Exercise D
Underline the portion of the sentence where the comma splice or fused sentence occurs.
Once you have identified the run-ons, correct them.
Last week my boyfriend and I went ice-skating, it was a frigid night. When we
left the house, we were shocked with freezing winds that chilled us to our bones.
Upon arriving at the ice-skating rink, we had to switch out our shoes with ice-
skating shoes normally this would be easy, but our frozen fingers had to claw at
our shoelaces. After gleefully sliding around on the ice for half an hour, we both
decided the cold was just too much, we needed to get inside to a warm place. After
we got warmed up, we drank hot chocolate and watched a movie we should have
just done that to begin with and skipped the skating.

Answer Key: Run-ons—Exercise A

Corrections are underlined. Answers may vary.
They did it again. Why do people keep doing this? All I’m asking for is that my
roommates show a little courtesy. Why can’t they place the toilet paper roll on the
correct way? It’s not that hard! You just take the toilet paper, unhinge the bar, and
slip the roll on with the squares facing you. Why would anyone in their right mind
place the squares on the wall side? It makes restroom breaks so stressful because
you have to then awkwardly reach your hand up through the bar to grab the paper
and then rip it off while making sure you don’t unwind the whole roll. I swear if
this happens again, I’m going to be the one unwound.

Answer Key: Run-ons—Exercise B

Corrections are underlined. Answers may vary.
My ideal vacation involves going somewhere interesting, and then not doing
much at all. I don’t like busy vacations. I don’t want to feel like I have to take a
vacation from my vacation. I like rest. For example, I would love to visit Italy, but
touring the famous sites wouldn’t be my idea of fun. I would rather rent a little
villa in the country or along the coast. I would just live like a local for a few weeks.
 Run-on Sentences  │ 27 

The Vatican, the Parthenon, and the Leaning Tower have been around for a while,
so they can wait a little longer for me to see them. Some may call it boring; I call it
actually getting some much needed rest.

Answer Key: Run-ons—Exercise C

Corrections are underlined. Answers may vary.
The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein is more than just a children’s book; it encom-
passes so much about how I want to live my life and raise my children. The themes
of service, sacrifice, and simplicity can be incorporated into any part of my life.
The tree serves this little boy his entire life and loves him with every branch and
leaf it ever gave. In contrast, as the little boy grows and becomes more ambitious,
he only finds discontentment. The Giving Tree shows why service and contentment
with the simple things are such key aspects of being truly happy. That’s why I read
this book once a year.

Answer Key: Run-ons—Exercise D

Corrections are underlined. Answers may vary.
Last week my boyfriend and I went ice-skating. It was a frigid night. When we
left the house, we were shocked with freezing winds that chilled us to our bones.
Upon arriving at the ice-skating rink, we had to switch out our shoes with ice-
skating shoes. Normally this would be easy, but our frozen fingers had to claw at
our shoelaces. After gleefully sliding around on the ice for half an hour, we both
decided the cold was just too much; we needed to get inside to a warm place. After
we got warmed up, we drank hot chocolate and watched a movie. We should have
just done that to begin with and skipped the skating.

Just the Basics of English Grammar - (c)2014 Sheldon Lawrence. Available

at www.amazon.com