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