Run-on Sentences

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

A complete sentence must have at least a subject and a verb, and it expresses a complete thought.

A semicolon, a period, or a coordinating conjunction with a comma can be used to correct a run-on sentence.

"I love to read I have many books." (This can be corrected to: "I love to read; I have many books.")

A run-on sentence contains two or more complete thoughts improperly connected, while a fragment is an incomplete thought that lacks a subject or verb.

Conjunctions can connect independent clauses properly, preventing run-on sentences when used with appropriate punctuation.

An independent clause is a group of words that can stand alone as a sentence because it contains a subject and a verb.

A dependent clause cannot stand alone as a sentence; it needs an independent clause to provide a complete thought.

Look for sentences that contain multiple independent clauses without proper punctuation or conjunctions.

A semicolon connects closely related independent clauses, indicating a pause that is stronger than a comma but weaker than a period.