English – How to Fix Run-On Sentences

By WR!TERS@WORK

“She’s seen the suspicious-looking man before,_______________, the officer asked.

• isn’t she
• hasn’t she
• wasn’t she
• hadn’t she

2023 P6 English Prelim Pei Chun

A run-on sentence occurs when two or more independent clauses are not properly connected. Independent clauses can stand alone and express a complete thought.

For example, “I have a yellow cockatiel that has orange cheeks and his name is Tiki” are both independent clauses in the sentence, “I have a yellow cockatiel that has orange cheeks his name is Tiki.”

In this case, the lack of punctuation or conjunction to connect the clauses makes it a run-on sentence. To correct this, you can separate the clauses with proper punctuation and conjunctions. For instance, “I have a yellow cockatiel that has orange cheeks. His name is Tiki, and I’ve had him for seven years.”

Sample Question:

Mr Ahmad has asked my brother and _________, to help him water the plants, as he will not be at home for the next few days.

• I
• me
• mine
• Myself

2023 P6 English Prelim Pei Chun

It’s crucial to keep in mind that run-on sentences can be brief, not just lengthy. These sentences happen when independent clauses are not properly connected. By understanding and fixing run-on sentences, your writing will improve in clarity and effectiveness.

When two independent clauses are separated only by a comma or nothing at all, it leads to a run-on sentence. This can confuse readers, obscuring your meaning. Run-on sentences make your writing seem disorganised.

Below is an example of a run-on sentence that need to be fixed:

When my cousin visited for Lunar New Year we visited the Singapore Art Museum the art was inspiring he’s an art student so he found it useful.

The run-on sentence above can be confusing for readers due to their convoluted structure. It’s important to fix run-on sentences to improve clarity in writing.

Fixing run-on sentences is essential for clear and effective communication. To address a run-on sentence, start by identifying the independent clauses within it. For example, in the sentence, “We went to a full-moon party at the beach. There was a bonfire and lots of music.” The independent clauses are: “We went to a full-moon party at the beach” and “There was a bonfire and lots of music.”

You can fix run-on sentences by either using a period to separate the clauses completely, utilising a semicolon to show a close connection between them, or employing coordinating conjunctions with commas to express their relationship. Each coordinating conjunction (and, but, for, or, nor, so, yet) conveys a slightly different connection between the clauses. By understanding these methods and choosing the appropriate one based on your desired message, you can effectively correct run-on sentences in your writing.

A conjunctive adverb is a useful tool for connecting independent clauses in a sentence. By using a semicolon and a comma correctly, you can effectively show the relationship between the clauses. When forming these connections, consider aspects like time, cause and effect, contrast, or various other relationships. For example, We went to a full-moon party at the beach; consequently, there was a bonfire and lots of music. Remember that using a comma alone to separate independent clauses can lead to a comma splice.

Run-on sentences, while permissible in creative works for stylistic purposes, should be avoided in most other writing contexts. They can make your writing difficult to follow and distract the reader from your message. Using run-on sentences in formal or professional settings can hurt the clarity and impact of your communication.

Sample Question:

She called the police, as soon as she _________ over, she saw the burglar fence.

• climb
• climbs
• climbed
• had climbed

2023 P6 English Prelim Catholic High

WRITERS AT WORK students know that it is essential to maintain crispness and coherence in your writing by steering clear of run-on sentences. WRITERS AT WORK teachers often remind students to keep their sentences concise and well-structured, so that they can effectively convey their ideas to the reader without causing confusion. Remember that clear and concise writing is key to engaging with your audience and delivering your message effectively.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Is creative writing good for kids?

Creative writing is good for children as it teaches them how to use their imagination. Children have a vivid imagination and will enjoy coming up with different storylines and characters. Through the use of creative writing, children can express themselves using the English language, which is also good for their emotional development and maturity.

1. What are good creative writing topics?

A good start is to write about what you know. Students can start by writing about things that are familiar to them, such as school or family. Then, students can move on to more complex topics, requiring them to use their imagination about events which would be unlikely to happen in real life, such as a fairytale or an adventure story. Older students can write descriptive essays about being in a situation or about more abstract concepts, such as regret.

1. How to begin a story?

A good story should have just the right amount of exposition to illuminate the setting and the characters for the reader without giving away the entire plot. The story should begin where it is relevant, and the general gist of the situation should be outlined. The writer should know how to move the plot along from where they start easily, and the story should flow logically.

1. What are the basic steps in creative writing?

A good first step would be to plan out the story – it is important that the story follows a Plot Curve which has a logical sequence of events and a clear conclusion. The main and supporting characters should be clear – there should not be a whole village of characters – just enough to further the plot. Moreover, the central conflict of the story should be clear.