FEATURE: Run-On Sentences

[whymzycal]

What is a run-on sentence?Aside from being the bane of composition students everywhere, the run-on sentence is defined as either a sentence that doesn’t stop where it should or, in slightly more grammatical terms, as a sentence consisting of independent clauses that haven’t been joined together correctly. (For a quick rundown of independent clauses

Comments

[diebirchen]

There is one further wrinkle when using a semicolon to divide two independent clauses. The semicolon, of course, goes at the end of the first independent clause, but then a longer linking word can be used: moreover, however, additionally, consequently, etc. This becomes the introductory word of the second independent clause and, as such, is followed by a comma before the rest of the second clause.

I opted for the gorilla eyeball fritters; however, Clarice, gourmand that she is, chose the calves brains in black butter.

Those wretched Japanese beetles have group sex on my roses; moreover, they ain't got no couth!

[whymzycal]

Indeed! (Curse those uncouth beetles!) I'd probably consider those examples as falling under the simple semicolon rule, though, since the howevers/additionallys/etc. would get a comma after them regardless of whether or not the independent clause they're introducing is attached to another independent clause.

[dark_weezing]

Quite informative. Thank you.

[whymzycal]

You're welcome!