Iqraa High School/ Writing worksheet
Mohamed Oukaai
A run-on sentence is two (or more) independent clauses written together without any
punctuation between them.
Run-on: The bank was closed yesterday was a legal holiday.
.Correction: The bank was closed. Yesterday was a legal holiday
.There are four ways to correct run-ons
Write the two independent clauses as
two separate sentences using periods.
Run-on: Heart disease is a big problem it
kills many people.
Correction: Heart disease is a big problem.
It kills many people.
Use a comma and any one of the following
connecting words: for, and, nor, but, or,
yet, and so.
Run-on: My friends ate pizza I ate
spaghetti.
Correction: My friends ate pizza, but I ate
spaghetti.
A. Decide whether the following sentences
are correct sentences or run-ons.
1. When my family moved to Springfield,
we lived in an old mansion.
……………………………………………………………………
2. The exhausted boxer fell for the fifth
time in the next round the judges
stopped the fight.
……………………………………………………………………
3. After a week the leader called off the
search, the rescue team could find no
traces of the survivors.
……………………………………………………………………
4. Call me old-fashioned, but I like
handwritten letters.
……………………………………………………………………
5. The witness is biased, so he can’t be
trusted.
……………………………………………………………………
6. She remained silent she was very sad.
……………………………………………………………………
If the two independent clauses are
related, use a semicolon to separate them.
Run-on: Jena loves tea Joe loves coffee.
Correction: Jena loves tea; Joe loves coffee.
Use a semicolon and one of the following
words: therefore, thus, also, furthermore,
however, consequently, and nevertheless.
Run-on: We have not yet won we shall
keep trying.
Correction: We have not yet won; however,
we shall keep trying.
If you use any of these connecting words,
a comma must follow it.
B. Correct the following run-ons using one
of the four ways mentioned above.
1. She hadn’t seen her father since 1998
in that time he had changed
remarkably.
………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………
2. Sam’s car broke down he must buy a
new car.
………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………
3. Yesterday was too cold I had to wear
heavy clothes.
………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………
4. It is getting late I am feeling asleep.
………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………
Iqraa High School/ Writing worksheet
Mohamed Oukaai

C. Correct the following run-ons using two different ways.

1. Dina’s decision to diet was strong her will power was weak.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
2. Europeans shake hands when they meet the Japanese bow.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
3. Jack didn’t study for the test he failed.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
4. Living in a city is tiring it can often be unhealthy.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
5. It is a dangerous job the pay is extremely good.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Enjoy your work

Iqraa High School/ Writing worksheet
Mohamed Oukaai

Answer key:

A. Decide whether the following sentences are correct sentences or run-ons.

1. When my family moved to Springfield, we lived in an old mansion.

Correct sentence
2. The exhausted boxer fell for the fifth time in the next round the judges stopped the fight.
run-on
3. After a week the leader called off the search, the rescue team could find no traces of the
survivors.
run-on
4. Call me old-fashioned, but I like handwritten letters.
Correct sentence
5. The witness is biased, so he can’t be trusted.
Correct sentence
6. She remained silent she was very sad.
run-on

B. Correct the following run-ons using one of the four ways mentioned above.
1. She hadn’t seen her father since 1998 in that time he had changed remarkably.
She hadn’t seen her father since 1998. In that time he had changed remarkably.
2. Sam’s car broke down he must buy a new car.
Sam’s car broke down, so he must buy a new car.
3. Yesterday was too cold I had to wear heavy clothes.
Yesterday was too cold, so I had to wear heavy clothes.
4. It is getting late I am feeling asleep.
It is getting late; furthermore, I am feeling asleep.

C. Correct the following run-ons using two different ways.

1. Dina’s decision to diet was strong her will power was weak.
Dina’s decision to diet was strong, but her will power was weak.
Dina’s decision to diet was strong; however, her will power was weak.
2. Europeans shake hands when they meet the Japanese bow.
Europeans shake hands when they meet, but the Japanese bow.
Europeans shake hands when they meet; the Japanese bow.
3. Jack didn’t study for the test he failed.
Iqraa High School/ Writing worksheet
Mohamed Oukaai
Jack didn’t study for the test, so he failed.
Jack didn’t study for the test; therefore, he failed.
4. Living in a city is tiring it can often be unhealthy.
Living in a city is tiring, and it can often be unhealthy.
Living in a city is tiring; also, it can often be unhealthy.
5. It is a dangerous job the pay is extremely good.
It is a dangerous job, yet the pay is extremely good.
It is a dangerous job; nevertheless the pay is extremely good.