Writing Tip of the Week: Run-On Sentences

A run-on sentence doesn't know when to stop. It goes on and on, combining two or more ideas with no, or incorrect punctuation.

For example: I had pizza for lunch it was good. This type of run-on is called a fused sentence because there are two complete thoughts here, but no punctuation.

The easiest way to correct this run-on is to add a period and separate the two thoughts into individual sentences: I had pizza for lunch. It was good.

We could also fix it with a comma that separates the thoughts, but does not create a separate sentence. If we do this, we must also use a conjunction, or connecting word. For example, I had pizza for lunch, and it was good.

Remember that 1 comma + 1 conjunction= one period.

Writing Tip of the Week

Did you know that commas can save lives? There is a world of difference between these two sentences:

1. Let's eat, Grandpa!

The comma in the first sentence indicates that you are speaking to Grandpa.



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2. Let's eat Grandpa!

The lack of a comma in the second sentence indicates that Grandpa is the direct object and the eating will be done to Grandpa.