What is a run-on sentence?

What is a run-on sentence?

• A. A sentence that ends with a period
• B. A sentence that contains two or more independent clauses without proper punctuation
• C. A sentence without a noun
• D. A sentence that lacks a verb

Answer: (B)

A run-on sentence is defined as a sentence that contains two or more independent clauses that are improperly connected without the appropriate punctuation or conjunctions. Independent clauses are complete thoughts that can stand alone as sentences. When these clauses are joined without commas, conjunctions, or other punctuation, it results in a grammatical error known as a run-on sentence. For instance, consider the sentence: "I went to the store I bought some milk." This sentence joins two complete thoughts without using a period or appropriate conjunction, creating confusion and making it difficult for readers to understand where one thought ends and another begins. Correcting a run-on sentence often involves adding a comma and a coordinating conjunction, or breaking it into separate sentences. The other choices do not accurately define a run-on sentence. A sentence that ends with a period is simply a complete thought that is not necessarily a run-on. A sentence without a noun fails to meet the basic requirement of a complete sentence, and a sentence that lacks a verb is equally incomplete. Thus, only the statement about independent clauses without proper punctuation accurately captures the essence of a run-on sentence.

A run-on sentence is defined as a sentence that contains two or more independent clauses that are improperly connected without the appropriate punctuation or conjunctions. Independent clauses are complete thoughts that can stand alone as sentences. When these clauses are joined without commas, conjunctions, or other punctuation, it results in a grammatical error known as a run-on sentence.

For instance, consider the sentence: "I went to the store I bought some milk." This sentence joins two complete thoughts without using a period or appropriate conjunction, creating confusion and making it difficult for readers to understand where one thought ends and another begins. Correcting a run-on sentence often involves adding a comma and a coordinating conjunction, or breaking it into separate sentences.

The other choices do not accurately define a run-on sentence. A sentence that ends with a period is simply a complete thought that is not necessarily a run-on. A sentence without a noun fails to meet the basic requirement of a complete sentence, and a sentence that lacks a verb is equally incomplete. Thus, only the statement about independent clauses without proper punctuation accurately captures the essence of a run-on sentence.