Are you a good runner? If so – good for you. Just make sure your sentences aren’t. Here’s why:
- One run-on sentence can drive your grade down a full letter
- This one mistake shows your professor that your grammar needs a lot of work
- It makes you come across as a total beginner, even if you’re not
So, what is a run-on sentence, and how do you make sure you never write one? Here’s an example:
The high salary seems to be appealing, maybe after fifty I will have enough money to buy a personal jet.
Did you spot the mistake? Okay – here’s what it is: this sentence is really two sentences in one, and they are separated by the comma. But how do you spot this if you’re new to this stuff? First, remember a simple rule:
A Sentence Must Have a Subject and a Verb:
Sentence = Subject + Verb
Sometimes a sentence will also have an Object. But an Object is optional. Now, let me give you a little lesson in etymology (look it up – don’t be lazy. Okay – etymology means ‘the origin of the word’).
We said that the sentence above is really two sentences. But what is a sentence, really?
You see, the word ‘sentence’ comes from the Latin word ‘sententia,’ which means ‘thought.’ That’s right – thought.
And now please humor me and do the following exercise:
Imagine the Manhattan skyline for me. Okay – do you have the picture in your mind? The skyscrapers and everything? Come on, you’ve seen the photos. Perhaps you’ve even been there.
And here’s the next part of the exercise – now imagine a tropical beach. But here’s the catch: I want you to imagine the tropical beach while keeping the picture of Manhattan Skyline in your head. Yes – I want you to think of these two completely different places all at once.
How are we doing? You probably found it very difficult, if not impossible (it’s not really impossible, but it takes a lot of mental effort and creativity – like imagining a split screen, or something).
So, what have we learned here?
Here’s the lesson: when you write a run-on sentence, you ask your reader to think of two things at the same time. Why? Because in order to think, you need to think of something. And when you think of something, that something becomes the Subject of your thought (sounds familiar?) And when it becomes a subject of your thought, it either Is or Does something. And you already tried to keep two of these in your mind at the same time. It doesn’t work.
When you splice two separate sentences into one, you give your reader one subject after another without warning, and this creates confusion, even if only momentary. And that’s why your professor hates it when you do it. And that’s also why your grade suffers a lot.
So, what about the example sentence?
Let’s repeat it:
The high salary seems to be appealing, maybe after fifty I will have the enough money to buy a personal jet.
What are the two subjects of these sentences:
- Subject 1: the high salary (does what? –seems)
- Subject 2: I (the author) (will do what? –have money)
These subjects, as you have probably guessed by now, belong in separate sentences, separated by a period. A comma signifies a pause, but a period signifies a full stop and signals the oncoming of the new subject and verb. Get it?
And if the comma is used instead of the period, then the first subject “runs on” to the next one. That’s why they call it a ‘run-on sentence.’ Some writers even skip the comma. The same example without the comma is also a run-on sentence and is just as bad. So, let’s rewrite, using the correct punctuation:
The high salary seems to be appealing. Maybe after fifty I will have enough money to buy a personal jet.
Now that’s a whole ‘nother story, do you agree? And it’s easier to read, too. If you keep yourself alert to this insidious mistake and can catch it before it ‘runs on,’ you’ll be well on your way to a higher GPA, better classroom life, and a happier you!
Tutor Phil
Dear Tutor Phil,
Is it correct if:
1) using a semicolon instead of a full stop to connect 2 sentences?
The high salary seems to be appealing; maybe after fifty I will have the enough money to buy a personal jet.
2) using a comma and a transitional word to connect 2 sentences?
The high salary seems to be appealing, therefore, maybe after fifty I will have the enough money to buy a personal jet.
3) using a semicolon and a transitional word to connect 2 sentences?
The high salary seems to be appealing; therefore, maybe after fifty I will have the enough money to buy a personal jet.
And which one will be the best choice?
Very good, Thuan.
1. The best choice. In fact, the semicolon works even better here than the full stop, because the two sentences are thematically connected. I just wanted to make a point about run-on sentences – that’s why I used the period.
2. This is a run-on sentence. A common mistake – to splice sentences using ‘therefore.’ If you want to use ‘therefore,’ then a full stop is a must. And ‘therefore’ doesn’t quite work here. The second sentence is not a logical conclusion from the first. Consult this post:
How to use “therefore”
3. We already know that the semicolon works best, but without ‘therefore.’
Excellent job!
hello phil…..I am planning to give GMAT somewhere next year and they require you to write argumentative and issue based essays….I am posting an argumentative essay…could u pls judge it an tell if its upto the standard of the GMAT exam and suggest me improvements…
Do Violent Video Games Cause Behavioural Problems?
I was flipping through the bulk of file kept at my desk when I saw my younger brother and sister fighting with each other in the room. I ignored it considering a normal sibling fight and went to the kitchen to get some water. But then suddenly I heard a loud shrieking sound of my sister. I rushed into the room and saw she was being choked with hand by my brother and she was crying for help. I got her out of the chokehold and slapped my brother for this insane behavior. I asked him the reason for this horrible act. He said he was just trying to replicate a video game scene in which the armed man was throttling the girl.
The above situation is a prime example of what the modern day gaming industry has thrown over to the billions of children. The increasing number of violent video games such as Manhunt, Dead rising, Counter- Strike and many more has largely contributed to the violent kind of psychological behaviour among the people. These violent video games have started becoming a serious threat to the society as well as a curse for the future of those who are getting affected by it.
Recently it was reported in France that a Gamer located and stabbed a fellow player just because the latter had stabbed him on the game called Counter-Strike. This incident sent shockwaves among the gaming community and called for a sense of inspection on the behavioural habits of the pupils who often indulge in gaming. According to a recent study, the most affected section has been the youth who either try to revenge out their loss in the game through the actual means or try to replicate things in practical which they see in these games.
With such a scenario in place, the parents now have a more important role to play in fishing out the kind of games their children play. They should keep a check on the behavioural pattern of their child and look out for the root cause if they show certain abnormalities in behaviour. Instead of promoting these kinds of games, the game makers should also filter out excessive violence from their contents in the larger interest of the society.
Tusheet,
I’m not an expert in GMAT, so I can’t advice you on their requirements.
But as far as your essay is concerned, it is very logical and clear. I like that. However, the way you present the elements of your essay could be improved.
You start out with an attention-grabbing example, then proceed to describing the big picture, and finally you state your opinion.
So, you’re going from more specific to more general, which is the opposite of what most people teach, including myself. You see, when you give me an example upfront, I don’t know what it is an example of. I only get it when I get to your second paragraph. And then I have to think back to the example, trying to make the connection. This is a bit of extra work for the reader.
But then again, maybe the GMAT format requires something like this – I simply don’t know.
Best,
T.P.