Fixing Run-On Sentences

0:00What is a run-on sentence, and how do you fix one?

0:04Here is a short passage about a rainy day.

0:09It holds four complete sentences, and each one could stand on its own.

0:14A run-on sentence pushes complete sentences together with no break between them.

0:20A comma on its own is not a strong enough break, so this spot is a run-on too.

0:26There are three common ways to fix a run-on.

0:30A period splits it into two separate sentences.

0:34A comma and a joining word, such as and, but, or so, link the two ideas.

0:40A semicolon joins two ideas that belong closely together.

0:45Here is the same passage with the right breaks in place.

0:50A comma and the word so link the first two ideas, and show a result.

0:56A period ends that sentence, and a capital letter starts the next one.

1:01A semicolon joins the last two ideas, because they belong together.

1:06Now the reader knows exactly where each idea ends.

1:10To fix a run-on, find where each complete sentence ends, and add a period, a comma and a joining word, or a semicolon.