Editing to Correct Run-On Sentences

Lesson 7 Editing to Correct Run-On Sentences

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Essential Question

How do we recognize and correct run-on sentences?

Grammar in the World

What Do I Know?

What do you already know about separating sentences in your writing? Use this interactive to find out.

Directions: Read each of the following sentences and decide whether it is punctuated correctly.

Building Blocks

Grammar is a complex system and structure of language. Mizzou Academy Grammar Lab spotlights one skill (or block) at a time, but it’s often helpful to see how a skill works together with other, related blocks to build the language structure as a whole. You may find the following resource topics helpful as context for this lesson:

Learn About Editing to Correct Run-On Sentences

As you begin this topic, be sure to refer to our IDENTIFYING RUN-ON SENTENCES module in Group 4. This will help you identify incorrect sentences so that you can then learn to edit to correct them.

Run-on sentences are a common error in writing, and your ability to find them and correct them helps your finished pieces sound more confident and show a command of grammar rules. Unlike fragments, there is rarely a good time to intentionally use a run-on sentence. In almost all cases, you will want to find and correct them if they sneak into your writing.

A run-on sentence occurs when two or more independent clauses are not joined correctly. There are two types of run-on sentences: fused sentences and comma splices.

A fused sentence occurs when two or more independent clauses are joined together without proper punctuation—or without a conjunction and proper punctuation.
A comma splice occurs when two or more independent clauses are joined together with a comma.

Look again at some of the sentences about our star-crossed lovers, Romeo and Juliet. You can see how each sentence in the “Fused Sentences” and “Comma Splice” columns needs extra punctuation to correctly join independent clauses.

Fused Sentence	Comma Splice	Correct Punctuation
The play starts out with a violent scuffle in the streets of Verona it soon turns into a love story.	The play starts out with a violent scuffle in the streets of Verona, it soon turns into a love story.	The play starts out with a violent scuffle in the streets of Verona, but it soon turns into a love story.
Juliet is only 13 years old when she meets the son of her enemy she marries him within 24 hours.	Juliet is only 13 years old when she meets the son of her enemy, she marries him within 24 hours.	Juliet is only 13 years old when she meets the son of her enemy. She marries him within 24 hours.
The secrecy and impulsivity of these characters can lead only to despair they both die tragic deaths within five days of meeting each other.	The secrecy and impulsivity of these characters can lead only to despair, they both die tragic deaths within five days of meeting each other.	The secrecy and impulsivity of these characters can lead only to despair, and they both die tragic deaths within five days of meeting each other.
Some people think Romeo and Juliet is a timeless love story many of us see it as a warning against impulsive, rash decisions.	Some people think Romeo and Juliet is a timeless love story, many of us see it as a warning against impulsive, rash decisions.	While some people think Romeo and Juliet is a timeless love story, many of us see it as a warning against impulsive, rash decisions.

How to Identify Run-On Sentences

Run-on sentences come in all lengths. The can be pretty short:

Romeo marries Juliet he also kills Tybalt.
The prologue of the play tells us what will happen Romeo and Juliet will die.

Or, they can be long and winding:

Many people think that when Juliet says, “Wherefore art thou, Romeo” she is asking WHERE Romeo is, which is funny because he’s standing right below her balcony at the moment however the word “wherefore” actually means “why” so Juliet is not asking where Romeo is but why he has to be a Montague, in other words, why does the man she loves also happen to be her sworn enemy?

There are two ways to identify run-on sentences.

1. Is there more than one independent clause?
2. Is the sentence really, really long?

Look at the sentence to see if it has more than one independent clause. Remember, an independent clause contains a subject and a predicate, and it can stand alone as a complete thought.

Incorrect—Fused Sentence: Juliet is not asking where Romeo is she wants to know why he has to be her sworn enemy.
Incorrect—Comma Splice: Juliet is not asking where Romeo is, she wants to know why he has to be her sworn enemy.
Correct—Juliet is not asking where Romeo is; she wants to know why he has to be her sworn enemy.

If you see two independent clauses that either have no punctuation between them or have only a comma, then you have found a run-on sentence.

How to Fix Run-On Sentences

While the simplest way to correct a run-on sentence is to end the first independent clause with a period and then start a new sentence, you will want to experiment with different ways to correct run-on sentences so that your writing has variety.

Separate the run-on sentence into two separate sentences.
Run-On Sentence	Correct Sentence
In Shakepeare’s time, only men were allowed to act on stage, female characters were all played by young boys with high-pitched voices.	In Shakepeare’s time, only men were allowed to act on stage. Female characters were all played by young boys with high-pitched voices.
Everyone attended the theater during this time rough and rowdy peasants and nobles in their best dress came to see the plays.	Everyone attended the theater during this time. Rough and rowdy peasants and nobles in their best dress came to see the plays.

Use a comma and a coordinating conjunction to create a compound sentence. To help you remember the most common coordinating conjunctions, remember the acronym FANBOYS.*
Run-On Sentence	Correct Sentence
The Globe Theater could seat 1,500 people, it could hold up to 3,000 people when crowds stood.	The Globe Theater could seat 1,500 people, and it could hold up to 3,000 people when crowds stood.
People could pay one penny to stand on the ground in front of the stage these spectators were called Groundlings.	People could pay one penny to stand on the ground in front of the stage, so these spectators were called Groundlings.

Use a subordinating conjunction to join the run-on sentences. When you add a subordinating conjunction, you will turn one of the independent clauses into a dependent clause. Sometimes you will need to adjust the wording to make the sentence make sense. Note that you do not need to use a comma with a subordinating conjunction unless the dependent clause is at the beginning of the sentence.
Run-On Sentence	Correct Sentence
We don’t have an exact record of William Shakespeare’s birth, we do know that he was born close to April 23, 1564.	While we don’t have an exact record of William Shakespeare’s birth, we do know that he was born close to April 23, 1564.
Shakespeare lived during a time period that celebrated the arts the bubonic plague created havoc and despair.	Shakespeare lived during a time period that celebrated the arts although the bubonic plague created havoc and despair.

Use a semicolon to join the independent clauses. Use a semicolon to join thoughts that are closely related and of equal value. It is best not to overuse semicolons, but semicolons are a nice stylistic choice when you want to closely link ideas.
Run-On Sentence	Complete Sentence
Queen Elizabeth was a big fan of the arts, she promoted theater, art, and music.	Queen Elizabeth was a big fan of the arts; she promoted theater, art, and music.
Queen Elizabeth was not as refined as you might imagine she was known for her cursing streaks and colorful language.	Queen Elizabeth was not as refined as you might imagine; she was known for her cursing streaks and colorful language.

Do I Get It?

What have you learned about editing to correct run-on sentences? Check your understanding in the following interactive.