2 a. We heard the noise in the garage two birds had flown in through the open

window.

2 b. We heard the noise in the garage. Two birds had flown in through the open

window.

3a. Esther cleans her kitchen every week she shines every pot and pan.

3b. Esther cleans her kitchen every week; she shines every pot and pan.

4a. I studied for the test all weekend I am well prepared for it.

4b. I studied for the test all weekend, so I am well prepared for it.

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Run-on sentences: Definition

A run-on sentence occurs when two or more independent clauses

are joined without the appropriate punctuation or the use of the

correct conjunction.

Run-on sentences consist of two complete thoughts run together

without adequate punctuation to signal the break between them.

1a. The bus stopped suddenly I found myself in an old man’s lap.

2a. We heard the noise in the garage two birds had flown in

through the open window.

3a. Esther cleans her kitchen every week she shines every pot and

pan.

4a. I studied for the test all weekend I am well prepared for it.

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Types of Run-on sentences

Two types of Run-on sentences have been identified:

1. Fused sentence

2. Comma splices

Fused sentences have no punctuation to mark the break

between the two independent clauses whereas Comma

splices are errors that occur when you punctuate with a

comma instead of a period/full stop or a semicolon.

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Correcting Run-on sentences

Here are the four common ways of correcting Run-on sentences

are:

1. Use a period and a capital letter to separate sentences.

The bus stopped suddenly. I found myself in an old man’s lap.

2. Use a comma and a coordinating conjunction (FANBOYS)

The bus stopped suddenly, and I found myself in an old man’s

lap.

3. Use a semicolon to connect the two thoughts.

The bus stopped suddenly; I found myself in an old man’s lap.

4. Use subordinating conjunction to join the two thoughts.

When the bus stopped suddenly, I found myself in an old man’s

lap.

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Activity

Read the following sentences and correct all run-on errors.

1. The flower is the most important part of a plant it contains the

seeds that enable the plant to reproduce.

2. Since I got my smart phone, I spent too much time tex