Run-on Sentence

A recurring problem that ESL students, as well as native writers, come up against in their writing is the run-on sentence.

Definition: This error occurs when sentences lack stopping points or connecting words between them.

For example (1):

The boy plays soccer and his sister studies the violin in their parent’s garden.

Correction: The boy plays soccer, his sister studies the violin, in their parent’s garden.

For example (2):

Every day after class, he practices soccer he adores the sport.

Correction: Every day after class, he practices soccer because he adores the sport. (add subordinate conjunction)

or Correction: Every day after class, he practices soccer; he adores the sport. (sentence structure – add semicolon; one of 3 ways to join independent clauses)

For example (3):

He likes to play soccer, volleyball, badminton.

Correction: He likes to play soccer, volleyball, and badminton. (commas in a series – add a coordinate conjunction – in this case ‘and’)