Incorrect: |
Helen cooked dinner therefore Ralph will wash the dishes. |
Correct: |
Helen cooked dinner; therefore, Ralph will wash the dishes. |
There are several ways to correct a run-on sentence. Before deciding how to fix a run-on, however, examine the clauses that make up the sentence.
Decide what the main purpose of the sentence is, then choose one of the following methods to rewrite the sentence for clarity:
- divide clauses into two sentences
- insert a semicolon between the two clauses
- use a comma with either a coordinating or subordinating conjunction
Correct run-on sentences by
- dividing the clauses into two sentences by inserting a period between them.
Incorrect: |
Mary came home from work early we worked hard on our project. |
Correct: |
Mary came home from work early. We worked hard on our project. |
- inserting a semicolon between them, if the two clauses are very closely related.
Incorrect: |
Mary came home from work early she had been feeling ill all morning. |
Correct: |
Mary came home from work early; she had been feeling ill all morning. |
- using a comma with a coordinating conjunction to separate the clauses. The coordinating conjunctions are: and, but, or, so, for, yet, nor.
Incorrect: |
I was too tired to go to the store the guys shopped for three hours. |
Correct: |
I was too tired to go to the store, but the guys shopped for three hours. |
- adding a subordinating conjunction to make one sentence out of the two clauses. Some subordinating conjunctions are: when, while, because, as, although, if, though, since
Incorrect: |
I will watch The Office you do your homework. |
Correct: |
I will watch The Office while you do your homework. |
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