“There’s not much to be said about the period except that most writers don’t reach it soon enough.” Author William Zinsser in “On Writing Well.”

What is a run-on sentence?

Have you ever read a sentence you thought would never end? Some writers attempt to convey multiple thoughts and ideas without using periods or other appropriate punctuation. Afterward, you’re not even sure what the author was trying to say.

Unfortunately, you now face the notorious” run-on sentence.” This is a grammatical disease that can wreak havoc on the clarity and conciseness of your writing.

Generally, a run-on sentence occurs when two or more independent clauses run together without proper punctuation or appropriate conjunctions.

Run-on sentences confuse your readers with a tangled maze of words and phrases. Today’s readers will spend limited time searching for some elusive point hidden within too many clauses and subclauses.

Run-on sentences are problematic.

Why are run-on sentences a problem? Because whenever readers get tired of searching for the point of a sentence or paragraph, they often lose interest and stop reading.

Fortunately, there is hope for aspiring writers. You see, the problem of run-on sentences is not an insurmountable obstacle. It’s a challenge to be overcome, a puzzle to be solved with logic and reason, and perhaps a hint of creative flair.

Two possible solutions to the run-on sentence problem.

The first is simplifying and streamlining your writing, thus shortening your sentences. Cut all unnecessary words and get straight to the point.

The second is isolating the run-on sentence’s clauses and splitting them into two or more shorter sentences.

How you can lose your way with a run-on sentence.

Consider the following run-on sentence presented to us a few months earlier.

“As the sun slowly sank below the horizon, casting long shadows across the deserted landscape, the weary traveler trudged wearily onward, his feet dragging through the sand, his eyes heavy with fatigue, his mind filled with thoughts of home and hearth, longing for the warmth and comfort that awaited him at the end of his long and arduous journey.”

The writer was undoubtedly impressed with the scope and ambition of this sentence. However, the 59-word sentence, with its numerous clauses and subclauses, threatens to overwhelm the reader.

Transforming a run-on sentence for greater clarity.

Here is how we transformed the paragraph:

“As the sun slowly sank below the horizon, casting long shadows across the deserted landscape, the weary traveler trudged onward. His feet dragged through the sand, his eyes heavy with fatigue, his mind filled with thoughts of home. He longed for the warmth and comfort that awaited him at the end of his long journey.”

We broke up the original run-on sentence into three shorter, more manageable sentences and eliminated some redundant words. By doing so, we’ve succeeded in creating a paragraph with more clarity for the reader.

The writer’s reward for meeting the challenge.

So, the next time you write a run-on sentence, don’t become so enamored with your work that you ignore the problem. Relax, take a deep breath, roll up your sleeves, and get ready to use your editorial powers like a master of the written word.

With a little patience, practice, and perseverance, you, too, can conquer the challenge of run-on sentences and emerge a better writer.