{"id":44,"date":"2017-06-19T22:54:26","date_gmt":"2017-06-19T22:54:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/olemiss-writing100\/chapter\/run-on-sentences\/"},"modified":"2020-04-01T12:28:19","modified_gmt":"2020-04-01T12:28:19","slug":"run-on-sentences","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/irsc-english\/chapter\/run-on-sentences\/","title":{"raw":"Run-on Sentences","rendered":"Run-on Sentences"},"content":{"raw":"<div class=\"textbox learning-objectives\">\r\n<h3>Learning Objectives<\/h3>\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Recognize run-on sentences<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Demonstrate revision for run-on sentences<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/div>\r\nRun-on sentences occur when two or more independent clauses are improperly joined. One type of run-on that you\u2019ve probably heard of is the <em>comma splice<\/em>, in which two independent clauses are joined by a comma without a coordinating conjunction (<em>and<\/em>, <em>or<\/em>, <em>but<\/em>, etc.).\r\n\r\nLet\u2019s look at a few examples of run-on sentences:\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Often, choosing a topic for a paper is the hardest part it\u2019s a lot easier after that.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Sometimes, books do not have the most complete information, it is a good idea then to look for articles in specialized periodicals.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>She loves skiing but he doesn\u2019t.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\nAll three of these have two independent clauses. Each clause should be separated from another with a period, a semicolon, or a comma and a coordinating conjunction:\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Often, choosing a topic for a paper is the hardest part. It\u2019s a lot easier after that.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Sometimes, books do not have the most complete information; it is a good idea then to look for articles in specialized periodicals.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>She loves skiing, but he doesn\u2019t.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\nA run-on sentence should not just be defined as a sentence that goes on and on. Not every long sentence is a run-on sentence. For example, look at this quote from <em>The Great Gatsby<\/em>:\r\n<blockquote>\r\n<div>Its vanished trees, the trees that had made way for Gatsby\u2019s house, had once pandered in whispers to the last and greatest of all human dreams; for a transitory enchanted moment man must have held his breath in the presence of this continent, compelled into an aesthetic contemplation he neither understood nor desired, face to face for the last time in history with something commensurate to his capacity for wonder.<\/div><\/blockquote>\r\nIf you look at the punctuation, you\u2019ll see that this quote is a single sentence. F. Scott Fitzgerald used commas and semicolons in such a way that, despite its great length, it\u2019s grammatically sound, as well. Length is no guarantee of a run-on sentence.\r\n<h2>Common Causes of Run-on Sentences<\/h2>\r\nWe often write run-on sentences because we sense that the sentences involved are closely related, and dividing them with a period just doesn\u2019t seem right. We may also write them because the parts seem too short to need any division, as in \u201cShe loves skiing but he doesn\u2019t.\u201d However, \u201cShe loves skiing\u201d and \u201che doesn\u2019t\u201d are both independent clauses, so they need to be divided by a comma and a coordinating conjunction\u2014not just a coordinating conjunction by itself.\r\n\r\nAnother common cause of run-on sentences is mistaking adverbial conjunctions for coordinating conjunctions. For example if we were to write, \u201cShe loved skiing, however he didn\u2019t,\u201d we would have produced a comma splice. The correct sentence would be \u201cShe loved skiing; however, he didn\u2019t.\u201d\r\n<div class=\"textbox tryit\">\r\n<h3>Try It<\/h3>\r\nCan you spot a run-on sentence? Click through this interactive to test yourself.\r\n\r\n[embed]https:\/\/lumenlearning.h5p.com\/content\/1290910801743442618\/embed[\/embed]\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<h2>Fixing Run-on Sentences<\/h2>\r\nBefore you can fix a run-on sentence, you\u2019ll need to identify the problem. When you write and revise, <strong>carefully look at each part of every sentence.<\/strong> Are the parts independent clauses, or are they dependent clauses or phrases? Remember, only independent clauses can stand on their own. This also means they have to stand on their own; they can\u2019t run together without correct punctuation.\r\n\r\nLet\u2019s take a look at a few run-on sentences and their revisions:\r\n<ol>\r\n \t<li>Most of the hours I\u2019ve earned toward my associate\u2019s degree do not transfer, however, I do have at least some hours the university will accept.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>The opposite is true of stronger types of stainless steel they tend to be more susceptible to rust.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Some people were highly educated professionals, others were from small villages in underdeveloped countries.<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\nLet\u2019s start with the first sentence. This is a comma-splice. The adverbial conjunction \u201chowever\u201d is being treated like a coordinating conjunction. There are two easy fixes to this problem. The first is to turn the comma before \u201chowever\u201d into a period. If this feels like too hard of a stop between ideas, you can change the comma into a semicolon instead.\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Most of the hours I\u2019ve earned toward my associate\u2019s degree do not transfer. However, I do have at least some hours the university will accept.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Most of the hours I\u2019ve earned toward my associate\u2019s degree do not transfer; however, I do have at least some hours the university will accept.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\nThe second sentence is a run-on as well. \u201cThe opposite is true of stronger types of stainless steel\u201d and \u201cthey tend to be more susceptible to rust\u201d are both independent clauses. Since the two clauses are very closely related, and the second clarifies the information provided in the first, the best solution is to insert a colon between the two clauses:\r\n<div class=\"textbox\">The opposite is true of stronger types of stainless steel: they tend to be more susceptible to rust.<\/div>\r\nWhat about the last example? Once again we have two independent clauses. The two clauses provide contrasting information. Adding a conjunction could help the reader move from one kind of information to another. However, you may want that sharp contrast. Here are two revision options:\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Some people were highly educated professionals, while others were from small villages in underdeveloped countries.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Some people were highly educated professionals. Others were from small villages in underdeveloped countries.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<div class=\"textbox tryit\">\r\n<h3>practice<\/h3>\r\nRead the passage.\r\n\r\n[1] I had the craziest dream the other night. [2] My cousin Jacob and I were on the run from the law. [3] Apparently we were wizards and the law was cracking down on magic. [4] So, we obviously had to go into hiding but I lost track of Jacob and then I got picked up by a cop. [5] But I was able to convince him that the government was corrupt and that he should take me to my escape boat.\r\n\r\nhttps:\/\/assessments.lumenlearning.com\/assessments\/5172\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: 1rem; text-align: initial;\">Review tips on how to spot (and avoid!) run-on sentences in the following interactive.<\/span>\r\n\r\n[embed]https:\/\/lumenlearning.h5p.com\/content\/1290907184330046558\/embed[\/embed]\r\n\r\n<\/div>","rendered":"<div class=\"textbox learning-objectives\">\n<h3>Learning Objectives<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Recognize run-on sentences<\/li>\n<li>Demonstrate revision for run-on sentences<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<p>Run-on sentences occur when two or more independent clauses are improperly joined. One type of run-on that you\u2019ve probably heard of is the <em>comma splice<\/em>, in which two independent clauses are joined by a comma without a coordinating conjunction (<em>and<\/em>, <em>or<\/em>, <em>but<\/em>, etc.).<\/p>\n<p>Let\u2019s look at a few examples of run-on sentences:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Often, choosing a topic for a paper is the hardest part it\u2019s a lot easier after that.<\/li>\n<li>Sometimes, books do not have the most complete information, it is a good idea then to look for articles in specialized periodicals.<\/li>\n<li>She loves skiing but he doesn\u2019t.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>All three of these have two independent clauses. Each clause should be separated from another with a period, a semicolon, or a comma and a coordinating conjunction:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Often, choosing a topic for a paper is the hardest part. It\u2019s a lot easier after that.<\/li>\n<li>Sometimes, books do not have the most complete information; it is a good idea then to look for articles in specialized periodicals.<\/li>\n<li>She loves skiing, but he doesn\u2019t.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>A run-on sentence should not just be defined as a sentence that goes on and on. Not every long sentence is a run-on sentence. For example, look at this quote from <em>The Great Gatsby<\/em>:<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<div>Its vanished trees, the trees that had made way for Gatsby\u2019s house, had once pandered in whispers to the last and greatest of all human dreams; for a transitory enchanted moment man must have held his breath in the presence of this continent, compelled into an aesthetic contemplation he neither understood nor desired, face to face for the last time in history with something commensurate to his capacity for wonder.<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>If you look at the punctuation, you\u2019ll see that this quote is a single sentence. F. Scott Fitzgerald used commas and semicolons in such a way that, despite its great length, it\u2019s grammatically sound, as well. Length is no guarantee of a run-on sentence.<\/p>\n<h2>Common Causes of Run-on Sentences<\/h2>\n<p>We often write run-on sentences because we sense that the sentences involved are closely related, and dividing them with a period just doesn\u2019t seem right. We may also write them because the parts seem too short to need any division, as in \u201cShe loves skiing but he doesn\u2019t.\u201d However, \u201cShe loves skiing\u201d and \u201che doesn\u2019t\u201d are both independent clauses, so they need to be divided by a comma and a coordinating conjunction\u2014not just a coordinating conjunction by itself.<\/p>\n<p>Another common cause of run-on sentences is mistaking adverbial conjunctions for coordinating conjunctions. For example if we were to write, \u201cShe loved skiing, however he didn\u2019t,\u201d we would have produced a comma splice. The correct sentence would be \u201cShe loved skiing; however, he didn\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"textbox tryit\">\n<h3>Try It<\/h3>\n<p>Can you spot a run-on sentence? Click through this interactive to test yourself.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"resizable\" src=\"https:\/\/lumenlearning.h5p.com\/content\/1290910801743442618\/embed\" frameborder=\"0\" width=\"500\" height=\"750\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<h2>Fixing Run-on Sentences<\/h2>\n<p>Before you can fix a run-on sentence, you\u2019ll need to identify the problem. When you write and revise, <strong>carefully look at each part of every sentence.<\/strong> Are the parts independent clauses, or are they dependent clauses or phrases? Remember, only independent clauses can stand on their own. This also means they have to stand on their own; they can\u2019t run together without correct punctuation.<\/p>\n<p>Let\u2019s take a look at a few run-on sentences and their revisions:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Most of the hours I\u2019ve earned toward my associate\u2019s degree do not transfer, however, I do have at least some hours the university will accept.<\/li>\n<li>The opposite is true of stronger types of stainless steel they tend to be more susceptible to rust.<\/li>\n<li>Some people were highly educated professionals, others were from small villages in underdeveloped countries.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Let\u2019s start with the first sentence. This is a comma-splice. The adverbial conjunction \u201chowever\u201d is being treated like a coordinating conjunction. There are two easy fixes to this problem. The first is to turn the comma before \u201chowever\u201d into a period. If this feels like too hard of a stop between ideas, you can change the comma into a semicolon instead.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Most of the hours I\u2019ve earned toward my associate\u2019s degree do not transfer. However, I do have at least some hours the university will accept.<\/li>\n<li>Most of the hours I\u2019ve earned toward my associate\u2019s degree do not transfer; however, I do have at least some hours the university will accept.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The second sentence is a run-on as well. \u201cThe opposite is true of stronger types of stainless steel\u201d and \u201cthey tend to be more susceptible to rust\u201d are both independent clauses. Since the two clauses are very closely related, and the second clarifies the information provided in the first, the best solution is to insert a colon between the two clauses:<\/p>\n<div class=\"textbox\">The opposite is true of stronger types of stainless steel: they tend to be more susceptible to rust.<\/div>\n<p>What about the last example? Once again we have two independent clauses. The two clauses provide contrasting information. Adding a conjunction could help the reader move from one kind of information to another. However, you may want that sharp contrast. Here are two revision options:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Some people were highly educated professionals, while others were from small villages in underdeveloped countries.<\/li>\n<li>Some people were highly educated professionals. Others were from small villages in underdeveloped countries.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"textbox tryit\">\n<h3>practice<\/h3>\n<p>Read the passage.<\/p>\n<p>[1] I had the craziest dream the other night. [2] My cousin Jacob and I were on the run from the law. [3] Apparently we were wizards and the law was cracking down on magic. [4] So, we obviously had to go into hiding but I lost track of Jacob and then I got picked up by a cop. [5] But I was able to convince him that the government was corrupt and that he should take me to my escape boat.<\/p>\n<p>\t<iframe id=\"lumen_assessment_5172\" class=\"resizable\" src=\"https:\/\/assessments.lumenlearning.com\/assessments\/load?assessment_id=5172&#38;embed=1&#38;external_user_id=&#38;external_context_id=&#38;iframe_resize_id=lumen_assessment_5172\" frameborder=\"0\" style=\"border:none;width:100%;height:100%;min-height:400px;\"><br \/>\n\t<\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 1rem; text-align: initial;\">Review tips on how to spot (and avoid!) run-on sentences in the following interactive.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"resizable\" src=\"https:\/\/lumenlearning.h5p.com\/content\/1290907184330046558\/embed\" frameborder=\"0\" width=\"500\" height=\"750\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t <section class=\"citations-section\" role=\"contentinfo\">\n\t\t\t <h3>Candela Citations<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t <div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t <div id=\"citation-list-44\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t <div class=\"licensing\"><div class=\"license-attribution-dropdown-subheading\">CC licensed content, Original<\/div><ul class=\"citation-list\"><li>Revision, Adaptation, and Original Content. <strong>Provided by<\/strong>: Lumen Learning. <strong>License<\/strong>: <em><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"license\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/\">CC BY: Attribution<\/a><\/em><\/li><\/ul><div class=\"license-attribution-dropdown-subheading\">CC licensed content, Shared previously<\/div><ul class=\"citation-list\"><li>Punctuation: Commas. <strong>Authored by<\/strong>: David McMurrey. <strong>Located at<\/strong>: <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.prismnet.com\/~hcexres\/textbook\/gram1.html\">https:\/\/www.prismnet.com\/~hcexres\/textbook\/gram1.html<\/a>. <strong>License<\/strong>: <em><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"license\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/\">CC BY: Attribution<\/a><\/em><\/li><li>Run-On Sentences Activities. <strong>Provided by<\/strong>: Excelsior OWL. <strong>Located at<\/strong>: <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/owl.excelsior.edu\/writing-refresher\/grammar-refresher\/run-on-sentences\/\">https:\/\/owl.excelsior.edu\/writing-refresher\/grammar-refresher\/run-on-sentences\/<\/a>. <strong>License<\/strong>: <em><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"license\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/\">CC BY: Attribution<\/a><\/em><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t <\/div>\n\t\t\t <\/section>","protected":false},"author":163,"menu_order":14,"template":"","meta":{"_candela_citation":"[{\"type\":\"original\",\"description\":\"Revision, Adaptation, and Original Content\",\"author\":\"\",\"organization\":\"Lumen Learning\",\"url\":\"\",\"project\":\"\",\"license\":\"cc-by\",\"license_terms\":\"\"},{\"type\":\"cc\",\"description\":\"Punctuation: Commas\",\"author\":\"David McMurrey\",\"organization\":\"\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.prismnet.com\/~hcexres\/textbook\/gram1.html\",\"project\":\"\",\"license\":\"cc-by\",\"license_terms\":\"\"},{\"type\":\"cc\",\"description\":\"Run-On Sentences Activities\",\"author\":\"\",\"organization\":\"Excelsior OWL\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/owl.excelsior.edu\/writing-refresher\/grammar-refresher\/run-on-sentences\/\",\"project\":\"\",\"license\":\"cc-by\",\"license_terms\":\"\"}]","CANDELA_OUTCOMES_GUID":"72f942ba-697f-46c8-916a-0459409dccab, b5ae8b70-8580-43cc-aabd-28e030464d3d, 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