Grammar! (Like a pro!)

Run-on sentences

Run-on sentences. Sentences that go on and on and on and on and on and on... They never stop where they should. But what makes a run-on sentence? And how can you fix them? 

For starters, let's begin with an incorrect sentence.

Becky liked to eat she also liked watching TV.

Looks weird, doesn't it? That's because we've combined two complete clauses into one, which is a big no-no in the grammar world.

"But wait!" you say. "What's a... Clause?"

I'm glad you asked! Clauses are basically completed thoughts. "I like pizza." is a thought. So is "Wolves are cool." Therefore, they are both clauses. But if you combine the two...

"I like pizza wolves are cool."

Doesn't work, does it? Let's combine the two, carefully. I don't want a mess all over my floor; I just cleaned the thing.

"I like pizza, and I think wolves are cool."

Not great, but you get the idea, right? You could also separate the two thoughts if they don't mesh together nicely.

"I like pizza. Also, wolves are cool."

Here's a fixed version of our original sentence.

Becky liked to eat. She also liked watching TV.

Those are the basics for run-on sentences. We do have a few more rules on clauses, but those will be covered in a later chapter.