Run-on Sentences
A run-on contains two independent clauses combined without proper punctuation (or two sentences merged together improperly as one).
HOT GRAMMAR TIP
A subordinate clause is a dependent clause. It begins with a subordinate conjunction.Example #1 (run-on)
Today I am tired I will take a nap later.
Grammatical Error: This run-on has two separate independent clauses, or complete sentences, with no conjunction and no punctuation.
Reasoning: The first part of the sentence "Today I am tired" is an independent clause or a complete sentence, and the second phrase "I will take a nap later" is also an independent clause or a complete sentence. Therefore, we have two sentences merged together without proper punctuation to connect them.
There are four ways to correct a run-on:
Corrected Examples
1. Separate the run-on by making two different sentences.
Today I am tired. I will take a nap later.
2. Join the two
sentences correctly by adding a comma and a coordinate conjunction.
Today I am tired, so I will take a nap later.
3. Join the
two sentences correctly by inserting a semi colon (;).
Today I am tired; I will take a nap later.
4. Subordinate one clause (make one clause dependent and one independent).
Since I am tired today, I will take a nap later.