If you have a run-on in your writing, you have three easy choices for dealing with it: a period and capital, a semi-colon, or a comma plus and/yet/but. OK, that might need some explanation, so here is an example run-on and the easy fixes:
A run-on: There was nothing terribly wrong with the furnace it only needed to be cleaned.
Option 1: There was nothing terribly wrong with the furnace. It only needed to be cleaned.
Option 2: There was nothing terribly wrong with the furnace; it only needed to be cleaned.
Option 3: There was nothing terribly wrong with the furnace, and it only needed to be cleaned.
In my opinion, the last fix sounds unnatural although in other cases it will sound great. The second fix is appropriate because if you use a semi-colon, the second sentence has to add more information to the first and they must have a close relationship when it comes to their meaning. Finally, the first option is always a safe bet. When in doubt, use the period and capital fix. For other more advanced options, see my future post on phrases, clauses, and all those extra arms that sentences grow.
No comments:
Post a Comment