What is a run-on sentence?

- A RUN-ON RESULTS WHEN TWO INDEPENDENT

SENTENCES ARE RUN TOGETHER WITHOUT A
CONJUNCTION OR CORRECT PUNCTUATION.
EXAMPLE:

SWIMMING IS A GOOD EXERCISE, I DO IT

EVERY MORNING.

CORRECT PUNCTUATION:
SWIMMING IS A GOOD EXERCISE, SO I DO
IT EVERY MORNING.
COORDINATING CONJUNCTION
F - FOR
A - AND
N - NOR
B - BUT
O - OR
Y - YET
S – S0
Conjunctions and comma should
come together to separate two
sentences.

Swimming is a good exercise, so

do it every morning.
We can also separate the
sentences with a period.

Swimming is a good exercise.

I do it every morning.
Another example:

I still haven’t figured out spanish and

I’ve been studying it for years.

Correct Punctuation
I still haven’t figured out Spanish, and I’ve
been studying it for many years.
2. I have been waiting here for one hour
so I’m going home.

Correct Punctuation
I have been waiting here for one hour, so
I’m going home.
“I hope to see a movie this weekend
there is a new one in the dollar theater.”

Option #1: Add an appropriate word

(like a conjunction) to join sentences.

“I hope to see a movie this weekend

because there is a new one in the dollar
theater.”
“I hope to see a movie this weekend there is
a new one in the dollar theater.”

OPTION #2 : Separate the sentences with a

period.

I hope to see one movie this weekend. There

is a new one in the dollar in the theater.
Option #3: Use a semicolon to indicate
a close relationship between the two
sentences.

I hope to see a movie this weekend;

there is a new one in the dollar in the
theater.
HOW TO CORRECT A RUN-ON SENTENCE

1. SEPARATE THE INDEPENDENT CLAUSES INTO TWO SEPARATE

SENTENCES.

LINDA OWNS A CATERING BUSINESS IN NEW ORLEANS. SHE

ENJOYS COOKING FOR SPECIAL EVENTS SUCH AS WEDDINGS,
PARTIES, AND HOLIDAYS.

2. USE A SEMICOLON TO SEPARATE THE TWO INDEPENDENT

CLAUSES.

LINDA OWNS A CATERING BUSINESS IN NEW ORLEANS; SHE

ENJOYS COOKING FOR SPECIAL EVENTS SUCH AS WEDDINGS,
PARTIES, AND HOLIDAYS.
3. REWRITE THE SENTENCE SO THAT IT CONTAINS ONLY ONE
INDEPENDENT CLAUSE.

LINDA ENJOYS COOKING FOR SPECIAL EVENTS SUCH AS

WEDDINGS, PARTIES, AND HOLIDAYS WITH HER CATERING
BUSINESS IN NEW ORLEANS.

INSERT A COMMA AFTER THE FIRST INDEPENDENT CLAUSE AND

ADD A COORDINATING CONJUNCTION. THE COORDINATING
CONJUNCTIONS ARE FOR, AND, NOR, BUT, OR, YET, SO. AN EASY
WAY TO REMEMBER THE COORDINATING CONJUNCTIONS IS TO
REMEMBER THE WORD FANBOYS.
DANGLING MODIFIER

It is a phrase or clause that either

modifies no word in the sentence or
refers to the wrong word. Dangling
modifiers cause the sentence to
lack coherence.
Dangling Participle Phrase:
“Smoking my cigar, a fire engine came roaring
around the corner.”

Revision 1:
As I was smoking my cigar, a fire engine came
roaring around the corner.

Revision 2:
Smoking my cigar, I saw a fire engine roaring
around the corner.
DANGLING GERUND PHRASE:
“After drilling my tooth, my cavity stopped
aching.”

REVISION 1:
After the dentist drilled my tooth, my cavity
stopped aching.

REVISION 2:
After the dentist drilled my tooth, my cavity
stopped aching.
DANGLING INFINITIVE PHRASE:
“To become a physician, aptitude and
hardwork are needed.”

REVISION:
To become a physician, one needs to
have aptitude and to work hard.