Run-on Sentences
Learn how to avoid grammar errors with run-on sentences.
by Tim Martyn
Table of contents
Example errors
Look at the example errors below. Can you fix them?
| Incorrect |
|---|
| – The research project was well-funded, this made it possible to pay the participants for their time. |
| – These findings suggest that conscientiousness is associated with intention to quit, however, more research is needed. |
What are the grammar rules?
NOTE: Run-on sentences are only an error in writing.
1. Run-on sentences occur when two or more independent clauses – an independent clause is a group of words that expresses a complete thought – are joined with incorrect punctuation or without a coordinating conjunction such as and, but, or and so.
2. When this error occurs, there’s typically a close link between the two independent clauses. The error can also occur when independent clauses are joined with a conjunctive adverb such as however.
3. To fix a run-on sentence, you generally only need to:
- use a full stop / period or semi-colon to join the independent clauses;
- or join them using a coordinating conjunction (e.g. and, but, so).
Corrected errors
Here are the corrected errors from the start of the lesson.
| Incorrect | Correct |
|---|---|
| – The research project was well-funded, this made it possible to pay the participants for their time. |
– The research project was well-funded. This made it possible to pay the participants for their time. OR – The research project was well-funded and this made it possible to pay the participants for their time |
| Incorrect | Correct |
|---|---|
| – These findings suggest that conscientiousness is associated with intention to quit, however, more research is needed. |
– These findings suggest that conscientiousness is associated with intention to quit. However, more research is needed. OR – These findings suggest that conscientiousness is associated with intention to quit; however, more research is needed. |
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