Run ons

Technically, a run-on sentence is two complete sentences that are improperly joined. For instance,

I like to write I do it all day. (Negative example)

If you stick a comma between them with no coordinating conjunction, you're made a comma splice, and that's wrong too:

I like to write, I do it all day. (Negative example)

You can fix it with a semicolon or a comma and coordinating conjunction, of which there are only seven (and, but, or, nor, for, so, and yet).

I like to write; I do it all day. (Correct example)

I like to write, and I do it all day. (Correct example)

You can also subordinate one of the two:

Because I like to write, I do it all day. (And don't get on me about starting a sentence with "because." It's a perfectly good subordinating conjunction.)

However, there's a good chance that when someone tells you your sentences are run-on, what they mean is that they're too long to follow easily. The sentences may be technically correct, but the reader can't track them. So take a look at what you have and see if you can tell what your critter meant.

I'm still guilty of writing run-on sentences, which in my case are long, rambling, breathless sentences that contain so much information that the reader is sometimes hard-pressed to follow what's going on, what with too many characters interacting with each other, or distracted by something else happening which I'm trying to explain at the same time, but the funny thing is, it all makes sense to me when I read it back.

A good rough rule of thumb to follow is: if you can't read a sentence aloud in one breath, consider breaking it up.

-Derek

Wouldn't it be easier to just ask the person who made that criticism exactly what they meant by it?

Also take a peek at the online version of The Elements of Style whose Elementary Rules of Usage section includes how and where to insert commas.

Best stay clear of semicolons, unless you're being forced to use them in class. Break your long sentences up into shorter sentences instead so they're easier to read.

Also consider using a spellchecker before you post -- not just for laziness's sake, but to make note of any corrections the spellchecker suggests, which can be a useful learning tool.

-Derek

Cybernaught gave you an example in his crit on your submission here -

http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=122442

The 'run-on' sentence in question was not a complete sentence. It was two sentences missing the punctuation between them. Cybernaught inserted a semicolon to make the combined sentences read properly.

In other words you 'ran' two sentences together when they should have been separated by something, be it a semicolon or a period or whatever.

rostaria01 said:

hey I have been told that I use to many sentance run ons what are they?

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This.

rostaria01 said:

Yeah I did, they told me about the commas and stuff.

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This post is another example of a run-on sentence. You have two independent clauses jammed into one sentence with a comma splice. Here's how they should look:

Yeah, I did. They told me about commas and stuff.

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If you're having problems recognizing mistakes like these, consider buying a book on grammar and punctuation. Look for one with exercises. It might help.