On this page you will find suggested answers to the exercise on page one: Identifying and Correcting Run-On Sentences. Keep in mind that run-on sentences may be corrected in various ways.
* Adapted from a sentence in The Natural (1952), a novel by Bernard Malamud.
- Correct
- Run-on
I drove a thousand miles to visit Jane, but she wasn't home.
or
After driving a thousand miles to visit Jane, I discovered that she wasn't home. - Run-on
Some students insist on taking all their classes in the morning; others prefer to attend night classes.
or
While some students insist on taking all their classes in the morning, others prefer to attend night classes.
- Correct
- Correct
- Run-on
Lubby searched the sky for flying saucers. The gray sky looked as if it had been rubbed with a dirty eraser.
or
Lubby searched the gray sky for flying saucers. It looked as if it had been rubbed with a dirty eraser. - Run-on
Most of my friends have left town. Jenny, for example, has moved to Watertown.
or
Most of my friends have left town. For example, Jenny has moved to Watertown. - Run-on
I looked for the can opener, but it had disappeared.
or
I looked for the can opener. It had disappeared. - Correct
- Run-on
Rick has a dollar, but he won't lend it to me.
or
Although Rick has a dollar, he won't lend it to me. - Correct
- Run-on
Seattle is the largest city in the Pacific Northwest. It is the region's cultural, financial, and commercial hub.
or
Seattle, the largest city in the Pacific Northwest, is the region's cultural, financial, and commercial hub. - Correct
- Run-on
As the train yanked its long tail out of the thundering tunnel, Roy felt a splurge of freedom at the view of the moon-hazed Western hills.*
or
The train yanked its long tail out of the thundering tunnel, and Roy felt a splurge of freedom at the view of the moon-hazed Western hills.
- Correct
* Adapted from a sentence in The Natural (1952), a novel by Bernard Malamud.
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