run-on
Low to mid frequency; common in academic and educational settings.Formal, academic, technical; primarily used in grammar instruction and editing.
Definition
Meaning
A grammatical error where two or more independent clauses are joined without appropriate punctuation or conjunction, resulting in a sentence that continues without proper breaks.
In broader contexts, refers to any text, speech, or process that continues without necessary pauses or divisions, such as in publishing or computing.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Typically hyphenated when used as an adjective (e.g., run-on sentence) or noun (e.g., a run-on). Distinct from the phrasal verb 'run on'.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is largely identical, but British English may use 'run-on' slightly less in casual speech compared to American English.
Connotations
Both varieties associate it with grammatical errors or lack of structural clarity.
Frequency
More prevalent in American English educational materials, but standard in both.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
adjective + noun (e.g., run-on sentence)noun (e.g., a run-on)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “No common idioms specific to 'run-on'.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rarely used; may appear in reports or communications about writing quality.
Academic
Common in grammar and composition courses to describe sentence structure errors.
Everyday
Uncommon in casual conversation; mostly in educational or editing contexts.
Technical
Used in linguistics, publishing, and text processing for uninterrupted sequences.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The meeting will run on if we don't stick to the agenda.
American English
- The show might run on past its scheduled time.
adverb
British English
- He spoke on and on, almost run-on in his delivery.
American English
- The speech went run on without any pauses.
adjective
British English
- He wrote a run-on sentence in his essay.
American English
- She corrected the run-on error in the document.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- This is a run-on sentence.
- You should avoid run-on sentences in your writing.
- The run-on paragraph made the text difficult to follow.
- Linguists debate whether certain complex structures qualify as run-on sentences.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a sentence that 'runs on' like a marathon without water breaks—it needs punctuation to pause.
Conceptual Metaphor
FLOW WITHOUT BREAKS: Language as a river that requires punctuation as dams or bridges to control its flow.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Confusing with the phrasal verb 'run on' meaning to continue.
- Direct translation might miss the grammatical error nuance.
- Russian might use 'длинное предложение' without the error connotation.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'run on' as two words when hyphenated as an adjective.
- Confusing run-on sentences with merely long but correct sentences.
- Mispronouncing with /ɔn/ instead of /ɒn/ in British English or /ɑn/ in American English.
Practice
Quiz
What is a run-on sentence?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
A run-on sentence is a grammatical error where two or more independent clauses are connected without appropriate punctuation or conjunctions.
Fix it by adding a period, semicolon, or conjunction to separate the clauses properly.
Yes, when used as an adjective or noun to describe this type of error, it is typically hyphenated. The phrasal verb 'run on' is written as two words.
In spoken English, run-ons are less noticeable due to pauses and intonation, but in written form, they are considered errors.