Run on sentences are sentences that contain too many ideas without proper punctuation. Not all long sentences are run on sentences. It is perfectly acceptable to join several related ideas in one compound sentence. However, if you don 't follow punctuation rules, a sentence can become a run on. A simple explanation of run ons and some examples of run on sentences should help to make this point clear.
Components of A Sentence
Each sentence has 3 necessary components 1. A subject: What is this sentence about? The subject is usually, but not always, a noun or a pronoun. 2. An action: What is the subject of the sentence doing? The action is always a verb. 3. A complete thought: What is the purpose of this sentence? Instant Grammar Checker - Correct All Grammar Errors And Enhance Your Writing. Try Now! www.Grammarly.com/Grammar_Checker
For example, lets look at the sentence "Jim is cold." This sentence has a subject: "Jim." It has an action: "is" which is a form of the "to be" verb. Jim is doing the action of "being cold." It also expresses a complete thought- the purpose of this sentence is to tell the reader that Jim is cold.
Sentences which have these 3 components are called Independent Clauses. If a sentence is lacking in one of the 3 components, it is called a Dependent Clause. Independent clauses can stand on their own- they form their own sentences. Dependent clauses can 't stand alone- they need to be joined to another clause.
What is a Run On Sentence?
A run on sentence is a sentence that has 2 or more clauses which are improperly joined. Independent and dependent clauses can be joined together to create compound sentences when writing.
However, there are rules that have to be followed when creating compound sentences, in order to avoid creating a run on sentence: * 2 related independent clauses can be joined using a semicolon.
Related independent clauses are clauses that could stand on their own, but that