Revising run-on sentences

1. Use a comma and a coordinating conjunction.

   

   Revising with a comma and a coordinating conjunction

2. Use a semicolon (or, if appropriate, a colon or a dash). A semicolon may be used alone; it can also be accompanied by a transitional expression.

   

   Revising with a semicolon

3. Make the clauses into separate sentences.

   

   Revising by separating sentences

4. Restructure the sentence, perhaps by subordinating one of the clauses.

   

   Revising by restructuring the sentence

One of these revision techniques will often work better than the others for a particular sentence. The fourth technique, the one requiring the most extensive revision, is frequently the most effective.

Exercise: Run-on sentences 1

Exercise: Run-on sentences 2

Exercise: Run-on sentences 3

Exercise: Run-on sentences 4

Exercise: Run-on sentences 5

Exercise: Run-on sentences 6

coordinating conjunction and, but, or, nor, for, so, yet; used to join elements of equal grammatical form.