Examples of Run-on Sentences in Academic Writing

📚 Quick Study Guide

• 🔍 A run-on sentence occurs when two or more independent clauses are joined without adequate punctuation or connecting words.
• 📝 An independent clause contains a subject and a verb and can stand alone as a complete sentence.
• 🔗 There are several ways to correct run-on sentences:
  • Use a period to separate the independent clauses.
  • Use a comma and a coordinating conjunction (and, but, or, nor, for, so, yet).
  • Use a semicolon to join the independent clauses.
  • Use a subordinating conjunction to make one of the clauses dependent.
• 💡 Avoid using only a comma to join independent clauses; this creates a comma splice, which is also a type of run-on sentence.
• ✍️ Example of a run-on sentence: "The sun was shining it was a beautiful day."
• ✅ Corrected examples:
  • "The sun was shining. It was a beautiful day."
  • "The sun was shining, and it was a beautiful day."
  • "The sun was shining; it was a beautiful day."
  • "Because the sun was shining, it was a beautiful day."

Practice Quiz

1. Which of the following is an example of a run-on sentence?
   1. A. The cat sat on the mat.
   2. B. Although it was raining, we went for a walk.
   3. C. The dog barked loudly it wanted to play.
   4. D. She is a talented musician and a skilled painter.
2. What is the most common way to correct a run-on sentence?
   1. A. By adding more clauses.
   2. B. By removing the subject.
   3. C. By separating the independent clauses with appropriate punctuation or conjunctions.
   4. D. By making the sentence longer.
3. Which of the following sentences correctly uses a semicolon to join independent clauses?
   1. A. I went to the store, I bought milk.
   2. B. I went to the store; and I bought milk.
   3. C. I went to the store; I bought milk.
   4. D. I went to the store, but I bought milk.
4. Identify the run-on sentence in the list below.
   1. A. She enjoys reading, but she prefers writing.
   2. B. He went to the park, he flew a kite.
   3. C. Because it was late, they decided to go home.
   4. D. Although she was tired, she finished her work.
5. Which of these sentences is NOT a run-on sentence?
   1. A. It was raining the game was cancelled.
   2. B. She studied hard she passed the test.
   3. C. He likes to sing and dance.
   4. D. They went to the beach they swam in the ocean.
6. Which sentence uses a comma splice (a type of run-on sentence)?
   1. A. I like apples, I like bananas.
   2. B. I like apples, and I like bananas.
   3. C. I like apples; I like bananas.
   4. D. Because I like apples, I also like bananas.
7. Choose the best way to correct the following run-on sentence: "The movie was long I fell asleep."
   1. A. The movie was long, I fell asleep.
   2. B. The movie was long; and I fell asleep.
   3. C. The movie was long, and I fell asleep.
   4. D. The movie was long because I fell asleep.