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How to Deal with Run-On Sentences in Your Writing
Clear, concise writing is important no matter what form or genre a piece is intended for. There are many potential stumbling blocks for readers, and one of the worst is encountering a run-on sentence. In this article, I'll be discussing those, how they affect the readability of your work and how to avoid and/or correct the issues.
What's a Run-On Sentence?
Let me start by clearing up a common misconception: a very lengthy sentence (count the sentence length with our sentence counter here) isn't necessarily a run-on. Yes, long sentences may be problematic in some instances, but they're not necessarily structured incorrectly. What's more, they aren't always a problem, while run-on sentences are.
A run-on sentence is grammatically incorrect, and for a very specific reason. It happens when two or more independent clauses are joined incorrectly. The reason for rules of grammar regarding this problem is the fact that readers will "stumble over" the sentence.
What's the Problem?
We know that sentences can be made up of multiple independent clauses. So, what does it mean to join them incorrectly, and why?
The answer becomes relatively simple if you think about the basics of clauses. An independent clause, like a simple sentence, conveys a complete thought. That means such a clause can be written as a sentence. While joining them to make one sentence may be effective, you'll need to do so in a way that separates the thoughts to avoid confusing readers.
Let me elaborate on that just a bit:
Why You Might Want to Join Clauses
From what you've read so far, it might seem that the simplest option is to write only simple sentences, without combining any clauses. That's not wrong. For the writer, it's a simple solution. For the reader, it's not always a very elegant one.
Most of us started reading at an early age, most likely with children's books. Those books are written with simple sentences, almost exclusively. Speaking for myself, my early reading consisted of sentences like the following:
"See Spot." "See Spot Run." "Run, Spot, Run!" *
The examples above may not be ideal, but they do illustrate how even a 2-word clause can be used as a sentence. Realistically, when writing for a more mature audience, clauses would look more like this:
"The traffic was awful" "Dave was late for work"
As you can see, both clauses are complete and would be perfectly acceptable sentences with proper punctuation (a run-on sentence checker like ours is great to double check). On the other hand, writing that way tends to leave a "choppy" impression, with abrupt stops. That's one of the best reasons to combine the clauses. It can also be an effective way to show a relationship between them.
How You Join Them Matters
Novice writers all too often join clauses like these without any connection. You may have seen incorrect sentences like this:
"The traffic was awful Dave was late for work."
This actually happens quite often although most writers will probably see the problem in that example. The next example, however, is one that many might see as an acceptable solution:
"The traffic was awful, Dave was late for work."
Unfortunately, this very common "solution" is also incorrect. A comma isn't the proper separator for independent clauses. It's used so often, though, that there's a name for the error. It's known as a comma splice.
Another common mistake is to add a transitional word or expression, like this:
"The traffic was awful, therefore Dave was late for work."
There are two problems with this example. First, the transitional word should be followed by a comma:
"The traffic was awful, therefore, Dave was late for work."
And second, the example above becomes a comma splice.
Getting it Right
Fortunately, there are several viable and correct ways to deal with independent clauses while showing the relationship between them. The simplest is often to add a semicolon between the clauses, which is one of the purposes of this punctuation symbol:
"The traffic was awful; Dave was late for work;."
Voila! We know Dave was late for work and we know why, without a lot of explanation.
This also works when using a transitional expression:
"The traffic was awful; therefore, Dave was late for work." Both clauses are well separated but related, and it flows smoothly. This isn't a bad solution, but it's not the only one. You can also add a conjunction, preceded by a comma. In fact, if you use a coordinating conjunction to join independent clauses, the comma is required:
"The traffic was awful, and Dave was late for work."
Finally, you can perform a bit of magic by making one of the clauses dependent. It's much simpler than it sounds, and all you need is a subordinating conjunction.
"Because the traffic was awful, Dave was late for work."
Similar conjunctions such as "although" and "unless" will work with different clauses:
"Although the traffic was awful, Dave arrived on time for work."
Mix it Up
It's important to have options like the ones demonstrated here to avoid redundancy in your writing. No matter how well it flows, using the same technique repeatedly will only result in a boring experience for your readers. That will eventually lead to a loss of readership or worse, clients. This is why a run-on sentence checker will benefit your writing.
Summing Things Up
I hope you've enjoyed this quick look into the problem of run-on sentences and a few ways you can avoid them. Remember, a run-on sentence is more than just long. While long sentences can be acceptable, run-ons will always interrupt the flow of your writing. Poorly joined independent clauses are something to be avoided in every writing form, even poetry.
Use the suggestions in this article to avoid the issue and improve the readability of everything you create. I believe even the best writers occasionally fall prey to the run-on sentence problem. Practicing some of the ideas in this article should prove helpful, and with enough practice, we develop better writing habits.
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* Excerpt from "Spot," a volume in the "Dick and Jane" series, by William Gray