The Run-on Sentence: From Here To Eternity
by:
Jean Fritz
If you find your sentences filled with commas, and they locomote from one topic to another, then you, like many an people, may be guilty of writing run-on sentences.
The run-on sentence is annoying. The run-on is boring. Most important, utilizing run-ons in your activity is a sure-fire way of losing your reader.
The run-on works in one instance – if it is part of one of your character’s personality. For instance, if you are writing dialogue spoken by a typical teen girl, run-ons would-be be acceptable (“Well, we went, you know, to the mall, and, like, we tried on several clothing and makeup, and then Sheila saw this actually cute guy in The Gap, so we went over and like, started talking, and ...” you get the picture.)
Curing a mania for run-ons may be a simple as implementing an outline for your work. Break each topic down into logical, organized subtopics and details. Relegate each thought to a single sentence. Once
a topic or subtopic requires further discussion, create unique sentences containing each of these details (or group related details) after your lead-in sentence.
If your topic ultimately branches out to else major topics, reference those topics in your initial paragraph, but address them in else paragraphs (or chapters.) This acts as a “teaser” to your audience, leaves them wanting more, and motivates them to see on.
These manual sound like high school stuff, but I recently emended a college-level text written by a Ph D that was fraught with run-ons. The subject matter was economics. The combination was deadly from the posture of maintaining consciousness. So for the sake of your readers, form a working relationship with semicolons and periods, and leave run-ons to the Natural depression
Girls.
About The Author
Jean Fritz is the owner and chief editor for JMT Publications (http://jmtpubs.tripod.com), a institution specializing in small indefinite amount self-publishing authors get into print. For much information on self-publication or to subscribe to her free newsletter, Writers' Notes, visit the JMT Publications website.
jeantype@excite.com
This article was announce on Sept
15, 2004
