Run-on sentence
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A run-on sentence is a sentence in which two or more independent clauses (that is, complete sentences) are joined with no punctuation or conjunction at all. It is generally considered to be a grammatical error. Some grammarians also include a comma splice, in which two independent clauses are joined with only a comma, as a type of run-on sentence [1], while others exclude comma splices from the definition of a run-on sentence. [2] [3]
A run-on sentence is not merely any very long sentence: A properly constructed sentence can be extended almost indefinitely. However, writing such an extended sentence is poor writing style and should be avoided.[citation needed] A recommended rule of thumb would be a maximum of 3 independent clauses contained in one sentence, on the grounds that anything beyond that can cause the reader to lose interest or become frustrated.
Examples:
- It is nearly half past five we cannot reach town before dark.
- It is nearly half past five, we cannot reach town before dark.
(The second example being a comma splice, which is considered a run-on sentence by some grammarians.)
- Henry Whopper was a teller of tall tales he even told them to his teachers.
There are several ways to avoid a comma splice:
- Insert a semicolon between the clauses:
- It is nearly half past five; we cannot reach town before dark.
- Henry Whopper was a teller of tall tales; he even told them to his teachers.
- Write the two clauses as two separate sentences:
- It is nearly half past five. We cannot reach town before dark.
- Henry Whopper was a teller of tall tales. He even told them to his teachers.
- Insert a coordinating conjunction (such as "and" or "but") after the comma:
- It is nearly half past five, so we cannot reach town before dark.
- Henry Whopper was a teller of tall tales, and he even told them to his teachers.
Simply inserting a comma between two independent clauses results in a comma splice, which is still considered incorrect.
(Some examples adapted from the online 1918 edition of The Elements of Style.)
[edit] External links
- Run-on Sentences, Comma Splices
- The Elements of Style: full text of Strunk's 1918 edition
[edit] References
- ^ [http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/runons.htm Run-on Sentences, Comma Splices]. Retrieved on 2008-01-24.
- ^ Run-ons - Comma Splices - Fused Sentences (2006-08-31). Retrieved on 2008-01-24.
- ^ Hairston, Maxine; Ruszkiewicz, John J. & Friend, Christy (1998), The Scott, Foresman Handbook for Writers (5th ed.), New York: Longman, p. 509