A Writer’s Workshop: Run-on Sentences

The Run-on Sentence A run-on sentence is made up of two or more sentences that have been run together as if they are a single, complete thought.

Avoiding the Literary Wreck Think of two sentences meeting where they shouldn’t. It might look like this when you’re done: Why are run-on sentences bad? It confuses the reader about where the thoughts starts or ends.

Types of Run-ons One type of run-on involves joining sentences without any punctuation: The drummer boy waited solemnly his heart pounded in his chest. The two sentences are related, but there is nothing to separate the two ideas. We need a period, a semi- colon, or a comma and a conjunction. The drummer boy waited solemnly. His heart pounded in his chest. The drummer boy waited solemnly; his heart pounded in his chest. The drummer boy waited solemnly, and his heart pounded in his chest.

The Comma Splice Another run-on is splitting two sentences with a comma instead of a period or semicolon, or leaving out the coordinating conjunction. This is called a comma splice. During the Civil War, tens of thousands of young teenage boys joined the Confederate and Union armies, many of the boys served as drummers and buglers. During the Civil War, tens of thousands of young teenage boys joined the Confederate and Union armies, and many of the boys served as drummers and buglers. During the Civil War, tens of thousands of young teenage boys joined the Confederate and Union armies. Many of the boys served as drummers and buglers.

Remember, to correct run-ons… Separate the two sentences with a period. OR Separate the two sentences with a semicolon. (Only use a semicolon if the two sentences are closely related.) OR Separate the two sentences with a coordinating conjunction and a comma (FANBOYS: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so).

Try It Yourself… Separate the following sentences with a period. Write down what word the period should follow: 1. Julian plays the flute her little sister plays the clarinet. 2. The quarterback threw the football the receiver caught it. 3. Insects have very short lives they have many enemies. 4. The music critic disliked the concert the fans loved it. 5. The fox changes its color in winter it is white in the winter.

Solution 1. Julian plays the flute. Her little sister plays the clarinet. 2. The quarterback threw the football. The receiver caught it. 3. Insects have very short lives. They have many enemies. 4. The music critic disliked the concert. The fans loved it. 5. The fox changes its color in winter. It is white.

More practice… Now, turn to page 438 in your language book. Number your paper to 10 and complete exercise 4.