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Nailing Down a Run-On Sentence

Topic: Nailing Down a Run-On Sentence
Activity Type: Writing
Activity Level: Advanced
Aim of the Activity: By the end of this tutorial, you would be able to learn what run-on sentences are, how you can fix them.

What Is a Run-On Sentence?

An editor has many nightmares. But the greatest of them all happens to be ‘run-on sentences’ or ‘fused sentences’. These kinds of sentences are not only confusing, but they are also exhausting to read through. An editor has to ‘dissect’ and ‘chop through’ the longish sentence, restructure and group the pieces according to relevance. All of this becomes even more difficult when you are not the writer/researcher yourself (being an editor in my case) and are detached from the research context. Above all, one has to edit or restructure a sentence while keeping the original meaning intact.

Sometimes even sentences which are technically and grammatically correct are easier to read if they are made into shorter sentences. The problem arises because we often speak in run-on sentences, but we make pauses and change our tone so people can understand us. But when we write, our readers are not hearing us, and thus for the sake of clarity, sometimes we must break our sentences into shorter units so that they do not sound run-on.

How to Identify a Run-On Sentence?

  • If you are able to find two or more independent clauses within the sentence, then you have identified a run-on sentence.

  • If you are able to find two subjects within the same sentence, or a subject and a pronoun, then you have identified a run-on sentence.

TASK

Given are examples of run-on sentences, see if you can come restructure them. Answers are provided along with helpful hints, so you can refer to them once you are done.

1. Identify if there are clauses in the sentence. For e.g. in the below given sentence, there are two clauses. The two clauses can be separated into two sentences.

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Problematic Sentence Remediated Sentence

Shazma was the headteacher of a local school the local school was using Urdu as a medium of instruction.

Shazma was the headteacher of a local school. The local school was using Urdu as a medium of instruction.
 

2. You can use a semi-colon.

Problematic Sentence Remediated Sentence

Shazma gave the students a mathematical problem to solve it was quite difficult.

Shazma gave the students a mathematical problem to solve; it was quite difficult.
 

3. You can use a comma with a co-ordinating conjunction (and, but, or, for, yet, nor, or so).

Problematic Sentence Remediated Sentence

Most of the classes were being conducted out in the open it was quite cold.

Most of the classes were being conducted out in the open, and it was quite cold.
 

4. You can use a comma with a subordinating conjunction (e.g., after, although, before, unless, as, because, even though, if, since, until, when, while).

Problematic Sentence Remediated Sentence

Shazma’s understanding of the ADISM program wasn’t deep she was familiar with the program’s vision and focus.

Shazma’s understanding of the ADISM program wasn’t deep, although she was familiar with the program’s vision and focus.
 

5. You can use a combination of a coma, a semi-colon and a transitional word (e.g., however, moreover, on the other hand, nevertheless, instead, also, therefore, consequently, otherwise, as a result).

Problematic Sentence Remediated Sentence

Data show that as a result of the ADISM program there seems to be a change in the teachers’ attitudes one way or the other their practices were improving.

Data show that as a result of the ADISM program, there seems to be a change in the teachers’ attitudes one way or the other; consequently, their practices were improving.
 

REVIEW

I hope that after going through the tutorial, you have now come to know the following:

  • What are Run-on sentences?

  • How can you rectify them?

If you are not able to answer the above, please return to the tutorial.

FURTHER READING

1. Identifying Sentences That Meet Conventions of Standard Written English Fragments, Comma Splices, and Run-on Sentences

http://www.hhpublishing.com/_onlinecourses/ppstdemo/ppst/writingskills/E1.html

2. Sentence Structure

http://homepages.uhwo.hawaii.edu/~writing/sentstructure.htm

3. Lesson Topic: Run-On Sentences

http://www.myenglishteacher.net/runonsentences.html

4. Run-ons and Fragments

http://www.usu.edu/markdamen/WritingGuide/17runon.htm

Authorship Information

Ambreen Ishrat.

Links retrieved by

Imrana Raza.
Last Updated on Friday, 24 April 2009