Anyone who has ever written a letter or a full length novel has run into the problem of Run-on Sentences. They are as easy to write, as they are difficult to spot. This segment of our help file will endeavour to point out the more common errors, and show you how to correct them.
A run-on sentence is an error in which two complete sentences are written as one. The two more common examples are: THE FUSED SENTENCE: Two sentences that are attached with no punctuation.
She already had lots of guppies she was hoping to buy a goldfish.
THE COMMA SPLICE: Two sentences that are attached with a comma.
She already had lots of guppies, she was hoping to buy a goldfish.
How To Correct Run-on Sentences
- With a semicolon: She already had lots of guppies; she was hoping to buy a goldfish.
- With a comma and a connecting word: She already had lots of guppies, and she was hoping to buy a goldfish.
- With a period, to make two sentences: She already had lots of guppies. She was hoping to buy a goldfish.
- By rewording, using a clause or phrase set off by a comma: She was hoping to buy a goldfish, since she already had lots of guppies.
With so many guppies in her aquarium, she was hoping to buy a goldfish
