Run-on sentences, sometimes known as fused-sentences happen when two sentences are squished together without using proper punctuation or a coordinating conjunction.
Run-on sentences can be long or short. A long sentence isn’t necessarily a run-on sentence.
Examples
Incorrect – Sarah enjoyed the bunch of tulips Sam gave her on their wedding anniversary however she likes roses better.
Correct – Sarah enjoyed the bunch of tulips Sam gave her on their wedding anniversary; however, she likes roses better.
Note that the incorrect sentence fuses two thoughts into one sentence without using proper punctuation. This makes it a run-on sentence.
The correct sentence is still one sentence, but a semicolon separates the two thoughts. There’s also a comma after the conjunctive adverb (however), to easily transition into the next thought.
The Three Types of Run-on Sentences
Comma Splice
A comma splice happens when you use a comma instead of a semicolon to connect independent clauses or thoughts.
Examples:
Sue likes to cook, she bakes bread every day.
Cam and Anna moved next door, they seem nice enough.
The bus was late, I missed my meeting.
How to Fix
Joining two clauses or thoughts together requires a semicolon not a comma. You can also use a coordinating conjunction such as: however, but, or, yet, for, and etc.)
Examples:
Sue likes to cook; she bakes bread every day.
Cam and Anna moved next door, and they seem nice enough.
The bus was late, so I missed my meeting.
Fused Sentences
A fused sentence puts two main thoughts or clauses together with absolutely no punctuation. These are the easiest type of run-on sentence to spot because they make the piece hard to read.
Examples:
Emma likes dogs she has a collie.
I’m hot I want to go home
That’s my favorite movie I don’t like the sequel.
How to Fix
Fused sentences are easy to spot and generally easy to fix. Simply insert the proper punctuation. As with a comma splice, you can use a semicolon or a coordinating conjunction.
Examples:
Emma likes dogs; she has a collie.
I’m hot, so I want to go home.
That’s my favorite movie, but I don’t like the sequel.
Polysyndetons
Polysyndetons happen when you use more conjunctions in one sentence than you should.
Examples:
We went to the beach and we ate lunch and we got ice cream and when it got dark we laid on the beach and watched the stars.
I went to high school with John but we didn’t have any classes together, so we didn’t recognize each other in college, but we figured it out in the end.
Our train was delayed, so we can get coffee at the station, or we can relax on the platform, or we can go shopping, or we can get a different train.
How to Fix
All of these sentences are confusing to read. However, they are easy to fix. Simply separate the thoughts into their own sentences and add some punctuation, or create a list.
Examples:
We went to the beach and we ate lunch. Then, we got ice cream, and when it got dar, we laid on the beach and watched the stars.
I went to high school with John, but because we didn’t have any classes together , we didn’t recognize each other in college. However, we figured it out in the end.
Our train was delayed, so we can get coffee at the station. We can also relax on the platform, go shopping, or get a different train.
Using a grammar checker like ProWritingAid will help you find, and fix all types of run-on sentences.