Run-on Sentence

A run-on sentence occurs when two or more independent clauses are joined without proper punctuation or conjunctions.

Types

How to Fix Run-ons

1. Add a period: "I wrote the essay. I submitted it late."
2. Add a semicolon: "I wrote the essay; I submitted it late."
3. Add a conjunction: "I wrote the essay, but I submitted it late."
4. Subordinate one clause: "Although I wrote the essay, I submitted it late."

Examples

Run-on: "The research was extensive it took three months to complete."

Fixed options:

• "The research was extensive. It took three months to complete."
• "The research was extensive; it took three months to complete."
• "The research was extensive, and it took three months to complete."

Long sentences aren't automatically run-ons. The issue is missing punctuation between independent clauses, not length.

Quick Tip

Read your sentence aloud. If you naturally pause between two complete thoughts but there's no punctuation, you may have a run-on.