{"id":5748,"date":"2026-03-30T11:35:48","date_gmt":"2026-03-30T16:35:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.eastcentral.edu\/learning-center\/?page_id=5748"},"modified":"2026-03-30T11:37:32","modified_gmt":"2026-03-30T16:37:32","slug":"finding-and-fixing-run-on-sentences","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.eastcentral.edu\/learning-center\/finding-and-fixing-run-on-sentences\/","title":{"rendered":"Finding and Fixing Run-On Sentences"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\"Â鶹Éç<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

What is a run-on sentence?<\/h2>\n\n\n

To understand what a run-on is, it is best to start with two independent sentences.<\/p>\n

Ex. My professor<\/span> reviewed<\/span> my paper. He<\/span> said<\/span> it contained a lot of errors.<\/p>\n

Both are complete sentences. Each one contains a subject<\/span> and a verb<\/span>. In addition, each one expresses a complete\u00a0thought.<\/p>\n

Run-ons occur when writers combine complete sentences without showing where one idea ends and the next begins.<\/p>\n

Ex. My professor read my paper he said it contained a lot of errors.<\/p>\n

This run-on is a fused sentence<\/strong>. Two complete sentences have been squashed together without showing the reader where one idea ends and the next one begins.<\/p>\n\n\n

How can I find run-on sentences in my work?<\/h2>\n\n\n

Run-ons can be long or short. Since length is not a factor, students wonder how to tell if a sentence is run-on. Fortunately, there is a test: try to turn the sentence into a yes\/no question.<\/strong> If your sentence is a
run-on, it will not be possible.<\/p>\n

Ex. Did my professor read my paper he said it contained a lot of errors?<\/p>\n

This does not make sense. You can only turn the sentence into a question if you divide it into two separate, complete ideas, like this:<\/p>\n

Did my professor review my paper?
Did he say it contained a lot of errors?<\/p>\n

Therefore, the fused sentence is a run-on. Sometimes, people try to correct run-ons by adding a comma,\u00a0 like this:<\/p>\n

My professor read my paper, he said it contained a lot of errors.<\/p>\n

This is still a run-on, but it is now called a comma splice.<\/strong> By itself, a comma is not enough to fix a run-on sentence.<\/p>\n\n\n

How can I correct run-on sentences?<\/h2>\n\n\n

Consider the following run-on sentence:<\/p>\n

INCORRECT: The weather should be great this weekend we should go camping.<\/p>\n

This sentence can be corrected in five ways:<\/p>\n

\n

1. Separate the complete sentences with a period and a capital letter.<\/strong><\/div>\n

CORRECT: The weather should be great this weekend. We should go camping.<\/p>\n

2. Connect the two sentences using a comma and a coordinating conjunction<\/span> (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so).<\/strong><\/div>\n

CORRECT: The weather should be great this weekend, so<\/span> we should go camping.<\/p>\n

3. Insert a semicolon between the two sentences.<\/strong><\/div>\n

CORRECT: The weather should be great this weekend; we should go camping.<\/p>\n

4. Use a semicolon with a conjunctive adverb<\/span>. NOTE: a comma should be placed after the conjunctive adverb (however, nevertheless, moreover, therefore, & etc.).<\/strong><\/div>\n

CORRECT: The weather should be great this weekend; therefore,<\/span> we should go camping.<\/p>\n

5. Use a subordinating conjunction to make one sentence a dependent clause.<\/strong><\/div>\n
CORRECT: Because the weather should be great this weekend, we should go camping.<\/div>\n

CORRECT: We should go camping because the weather should be great this weekend.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
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Learning Center<\/a><\/h1><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Updated August 2023 by The Learning Center staff<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

What is a run-on sentence? To understand what a run-on is, it is best to start with two independent sentences. Ex. My professor reviewed my paper. He said it contained a lot of errors. Both are complete sentences. Each one contains a subject and a verb. In addition, each one expresses a complete\u00a0thought. 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