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Run-On Sentences
Episode 49: April 03, 2007

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Grammar Girl here.

Today's topic is run-on sentences.

I bet a lot of you think that run-on sentences are just really long sentences that go on and on like the Energizer bunny. But actually, run-on sentences are sentences that lack punctuation; they can be long, but they can also be short.

Here's an example of a short run-on sentence: I'm a woman I am a truck driver. (I was in a writing group a few years ago with an interesting woman who was writing a book about her experience as a truck driver.) The reason I am a woman I am a truck driver is a run-on sentence is that it's written without any internal punctuation. I've fused together two complete sentences, which is why run-on sentences are also called fused sentences. There are a bunch of ways to fix run-on sentences; the toolbox is filled with the same basic fixes* that I used to repair comma splices a few episodes ago: periods, semicolons, and commas with coordinating conjunctions.

How you fix the sentence depends on how the different parts are related to each other and what tone and rhythm you are trying to achieve.

For example, if you want to completely separate the two fused sentences, then you'd use a period: I am a woman. I am a truck driver.

If you want to keep more of a connection between the two thoughts, you could use a semicolon and write, I am a woman; I am a truck driver.

If you want to make more of a comment on the connection between the two sentences, then you could use a conjunction with a comma. For example, you could write, I am a woman, and I am a truck driver, or you could write, I am a woman, yet I am a truck driver.

If you wanted to get fancy, you could use a conjunctive adverb with a semicolon and a comma: I am a woman; nevertheless, I am a truck driver.

There are even more ways to fix run-on sentences, depending on the relationship between the different clauses; for example, you could use a colon if the first clause introduces the second clause, but my main point is that you have to use something to connect two clauses that could be complete sentences on their own. You can't just fuse them together. If you do, that's an error called a run-on sentence.

Sometimes people ask me how they can choose the best way to structure their sentences when there are so many different ways to connect independent clauses. In most cases, there's no right answer to that question. You have to determine what kind of tone you want to set. For example, I am a woman. I am a truck driver has a very hard and strong tone, whereas I am a woman; nevertheless, I am a truck driver has more of a conversational tone (especially when I'm not reading the punctuation marks to you). In the first case, where I used the periods, I expect to hear a tale of conflict; in the second case, where I used a conjunctive adverb, I just expect to hear an interesting story. But the differences can obviously be subtle.

I believe that when you're writing, it's important not to over-think your sentence structure. If you make sure your sentences are grammatically correct and write what you mean to say, there's a good chance you'll just automatically pick the right structure for your needs, especially if you are a native English speaker. If you get too hung up on whether to use a semicolon or a conjunction, it can inhibit your creativity (at least it can for me).

Also, most people end up having a personal writing style that favors certain solutions over others for no apparent reason. I bet you can read e-mail messages from your friends and tell who wrote most of them, no matter what the topic is, because you will recognize your friends' writing styles. It can be a fun exercise to try to write in a style that is completely different from how you would normally write—just make sure you don't fuse independent clauses together and make run-on sentences.

That's all.

This week's book winners are William, Teresa, and Ben. They've all won a copy of my new audiobook, Grammar Girl's Quick and Dirty Tips to Clean Up Your Writing, which is a one-hour downloadable audiobook covering 24 different topics. The book is currently the top selling audiobook at iTunes, so thank you to all the people who have already bought it!

As always, this is Grammar Girl. You'll find a transcript of this podcast at QuickAndDirtyTips.com; Remember, if you want to call in with a question, the number is 206-338-GIRL. Send e-mails to feedback@quickanddirtytips.com.

* The use of fix as a noun is considered correct, but informal.

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Comments (31) for Run-On Sentences | Subscribe to Comment

best toasters Says:
11/11/2009 12:51:46 PM

Love the tips, very useful thanks

Josh Says:
6/19/2009 4:25:03 PM

Here's another sentence that has two clauses that would be independent if they weren't an object, this time of "because." Again, which is right? Aardvark is confused because this is a tough grammar question and he can't find the answer. or Aardvark is confused because this is a tough grammar question, and he can't find the answer. Here, the meaning, and perhaps a clearer solution is this: Aardvark is confused because this is a hard question and because he can't find the answer. Is the solution just to repeat the because and ignore my question about independent clauses? Thanks again.

Josh Says:
6/16/2009 3:59:12 PM

When two independent clauses are linked by a coordinating conjunction but also combine to serve as the direct object in a sentence (I think I have that right), do we treat them as if they stood alone, or do we omit the comma after the coordinating conjunction? For instance, which is correct: Aardvark said that Jack is short and Jill is tall. or Aardvark said that Jack is short, and Jill is tall. The first seems to be missing punctuation, but the second seems to be saying that Aardvark's statement does not include anything about Jill. I encounter this dilemma all the time in my work as an attorney when I refer to parties' arguments (e.g., "Appellee contends... and....") and each time I try to find a rule (typically via the Internet and the Chicago Manual of Style), I can't find anything. Thanks!

cherry Says:
1/2/2009 9:33:19 PM

who discovered run-on sentence?

Ron Says:
4/3/2008 3:12:12 AM

Grammar girl thank you so much for the inputs! I loved the simple yet comprehensive discussions on grammar. I learned a lot and still learning more from your topics.

honey Says:
12/6/2007 6:12:40 AM

Tnank you!I learned a lot from your tips.

Grammar Girl Says:
8/27/2007 9:29:11 PM

Hmm. I think it depends on how you look at it. All the meanings of "physically" do include a sense of being in the physical world or in direct contact. To me, it does feel as if I'm physically in contact with my PC when I'm using GoToMyPC. It feels as if I'm sitting at my own computer, and somehow I've just plugged the keyboard and mouse in front of me into my computer at home. So I'm physically interacting with my computer as much as I'm ever physically interacting with my computer -- using a keyboard and mouse to manipulate the bits (or whatever it is that makes the computer do what it does). But I can also see the argument that I'm only accessing my computer as opposed to physically interacting with it. I can't whop it when I'm frustrated or wipe dust off the screen. ----- --------

Mark P Says:
8/27/2007 3:40:02 AM

In the podcast version of this episode, in the sponsor comments, you say, "When I discovered Go To My PC, I was suddenly able to travel without any worries because their software lets you physically access your own computer from any remote location." Is this a correct use of physically? I always thought physically denoted something of the material world. My dictionary seems to agree. Saying "logically access" would make more sense. Am I wrong? -----

aardvark Says:
7/14/2007 4:33:04 PM

Hi Paula, As you know, the word apology can be a singular or plural noun, so aardvark would recommend the following advice: If someone has apologized for one transgression, you would say, " I accept your apology," or "Apology accepted." For those individuals (or creatures) who transgress more than once and want forgiveness with a multi-pronged apology, then I would want a plural use of apology. Squiggley, on occasion, has tracked goo into my den and has eaten small pieces of my geranium. So, when he says, " I am sorry for the mess I left in your den, as well as for the hole I left in your geranium," I would reply, " I accept your apologies." Please accept my apology if this explanation doesn't clarify the issue for you! -----

Ana Pereira Says:
7/12/2007 7:04:26 PM

Dear Grammar girl, I've always said, "apology accepted," never "apologies accepted" especially after someone says, " I apologise for being late," or "I'm late my apologies." Are both correct? Thanks in advance, Paula -----

Samir Shah Says:
7/12/2007 2:38:13 AM

I lived in the south for 9 years before moving to the north last year. I concur with y'all for "you all". I have noticed I sometimes say "all y'all." I thought about it, and it does mean more people. In the south they also say, "fixen" to mean you are going to do something, like "I'm fixen to eat." I picked up a great book from Cracker Barrel called "How to Talk Southern" and it's hilarious on these topics. When discussion the singular and plural "you," I thought I'd mention Spanish. They have "tu" the singular "you", the "usted" which is the respectful "you" and "ustedes" the plural you (y'all). It's good they have it, Anyhows, keep up the good shows. -----

Gabby Says:
5/23/2007 3:58:18 PM

grammar girl you rock! I am an English teacher I really enjoy your explanations and examples. I use them in my class :) Thanks!! -----

araceli Says:
4/16/2007 7:50:38 PM

Grammar Girl thanks for give us those tips about run-on sentence, because sometimes people write things down and you can't understand the sentence. I know is common that you forget to put periods, semicolons, and commas with coordinating conjunctions in sentence but after finishing something you should read what you wrote. -----

tyler anderson Says:
4/16/2007 7:46:34 PM

Grammar smarts will be very useful in the future for my career. With these skills I will really be able to prove myself. Thanks a million! -----

Jane Says:
4/12/2007 5:47:10 PM

Hi Grammar Girl. I saw you on Oprah and I am hoping that you can help me with my grammar pet peeve. I work in the human resources field and review many employee handbooks and personnel policies. It drives me crazy when companies refer to a disciplinary measure as an "oral warning" or "oral reprimand," or say that they will respond to something "orally or in writing." I think the correct word in that context is "verbal" not "oral." What do you think? Thanks! -----

Randy Grein Says:
4/12/2007 1:58:27 AM

Dear GG, Thanks for a great podcast! I backed into writing professionally years ago, and like most accidental writers always felt I could do a little bit better. I recommend your work to my colleagues and my children. Weekly 2-8 minute snippets are easily digested; the perfect size for those of us not consumed by grammatical questions but still wanting to be professional. -----

Dan Says:
4/11/2007 4:42:54 PM

Grammar Girl should be careful not to use a run-on sentence when instructing people about run-on sentences. Here's her run-on sentence: There are even more ways to fix run-on sentences depending on the relationship between the different clauses, for example, you could use a colon if the first clause introduces the second clause, but my main point is that you have to use something to connect two clauses that could be complete sentences on their own. This is a run-on sentence not because it's long, but because it has a comma where it should have a period (after "clauses"). By the way, the absence of a comma before "depending" makes the words following "...fix run-on sentences" a restrictive clause when it should be a non-restrictive clause. That is, "depend on the relationship..." should not restrict "run-on sentences" only to those that "depend on the relationship...," as the sentence structure does here. -----

John Says:
4/10/2007 10:51:52 PM

"the both of you" is more common in speech than in writing. Some people don't like it, but I can't imagine why; it sounds fine to me

Elizabeth Says:
4/10/2007 4:27:49 PM

Hi, Grammar Girl! I recently discovered your podcast at iTunes, and I LOVE it! I'm trying to get the rest of my company to start listening too. Using proper grammar is something we can all get better at. Thanks for giving us great information in a fun, usable format! You rock!! Elizabeth -----

Ian Says:
4/9/2007 10:05:24 PM

just a quick technical non-grammar related note (and i know my grammar is probably horrible, but i'm not concerned about it). Before you pay for gotomypc, you might want to look at using the remote desktop feature that comes with windows 2000, XP, 2003 and Vista. Gives you remote control of your PC without having to pay anything. If you do a google search on: how to use remote desktop It should give you a link back to a microsoft article that explains it. Hope that helps. -----

Krista Says:
4/9/2007 9:06:39 PM

There are many sentences in the run-on sentences piece that are incorrect due to the lack of a comma with a coordinating conjunction. For example, Grammar Girl wrote the following: The reason I'm thrilled is that I've actually used their software and I love it. A comma should be placed after "software" and before "and" because it is a complex sentence. The next sentence in the entry has the same problem. -----

jo Says:
4/9/2007 3:05:09 AM

Am I the only one thinking John might have a touch of schizophrenia? ;) -----

Zach Everson Says:
4/8/2007 2:54:44 PM

I must be blessed; I rarely encounter papers with run-on sentences. -----

John Says:
4/7/2007 5:27:36 PM

But conjunctive "like" is standard English. It's just not accepted by many in formal writing. It's normal for people to switch between formal and informal styles depending on the context. This is part of grammar too. -----

John Says:
4/7/2007 4:48:29 PM

I think conjunctive "like" is out of place in a podcast that strives to teach listeners about grammar. If Grammar Girl doesn't conform to the rules of English grammar in her podcast who will? Grammar Girl should avoid using conjunctive "like" and other such shiboleths in order to teach listeners by example how to speak and write well. -----

John Says:
4/7/2007 4:00:15 PM

John, it's true that many people object to conjunctive "like" in formal writing. The question is, are Grammar Girl's podcasts formal writing? I don't think so. Conjunctive "like" is used by many good writers, including Keats, Brontë, Dickens, Kipling, Wells, and Shaw. However, it is usually used where it does not seem out of place - that is, informal prose and dialogue. I don't think conjunctive "like" is out of place in a podcast either. ----- COMMENT

mike Says:
4/7/2007 11:09:37 AM

Hi Grammar Girl, I recently discoved your podcast and spent the week listening to every last one of them. Thanks for all of your efforts. -----

John Says:
4/7/2007 6:14:56 AM

Dear Grammar Girl: I noticed a grammatical mistake in your latest pod cast. You said, "...it was like I was sitting in front of my computer at home." You use the word "like" instead of "as if" or "as though." My American Heritage Dictionary says that "Writers since Chaucer's time have used "like" as a conjunction, but 19th-century and 20th-century critics have been so vehement in their condemnation of this usage that a writer who uses the construction in formal style risks being accused of illiteracy or worse." Also, I think you would also have to use the subjunctive tense in this sentence. It should read, "...it was as if I were sitting in front of my computer at home." That's all. I love the pod cast. Maybe you could do another episode about the ways the word "like" is misused, or an episode about the subjunctive tense. Thanks! John -----

gwynneth Says:
4/7/2007 4:16:21 AM

I love your podcasts. You rock!!! ---

Sharon Says:
4/6/2007 7:32:42 PM

Would you answer this question for me? Alot of people say "the both of you" Is this correct? Shouldn't it be either "the two of you" or "both of you"? Thank you. -----

Kathleen Lyons Says:
4/6/2007 1:35:16 PM

I love your tips. You have a great way of correcting people's grammar without making them feel stupid. Love your show. And I want your book! -----