Run-on sentence

noun

noun ·Rare ·Advanced level

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    A written sentence that inappropriately joins two (or more) independent clauses into a single sentence, often with only a comma as separator (comma splice), which should be rendered either as separate sentences or as clauses joined more appropriately (such as by a semicolon or by a comma and coordinating conjunction).
  2. 2
    an ungrammatical sentence in which two or more independent clauses are conjoined without a conjunction wordnet
  3. 3
    A written sentence that inappropriately joins two (or more) independent clauses into a single sentence, often with only a comma as separator (comma splice), which should be rendered either as separate sentences or as clauses joined more appropriately (such as by a semicolon or by a comma and coordinating conjunction).; A written sentence with a coordinating conjunction but missing a comma.
  4. 4
    Any very long, often also in other ways badly formed or even chaotic sentence.

Synonyms

All synonyms
comma splicefused sentencelong sentenceoverlong sentencerun-onrun-on error

Etymology

So called because the sentence runs on beyond the point where it should end.

Next best steps

Browse writing guidesExplore topic clusters