The runon sentence

1
The run-on sentence
In the mind of a new writer, two sentences crash
together
Billy was sleepy.
Boom!
He went to bed.
2
Billy was sleepy he went to bed

• Now instead of two normal sentences, there is
  only one incorrect sentence.
• Having lost a period and a capital letter, the
  two sentences have become a
• dreaded, dangerous Run-On!!!

3
Billy was sleepy. He went to bed.

• This must not be! Run-On sentences are not
  allowed!
• But how do we correct it? There are 4 ways
• The first one is to change it back to two simple
  sentences like it was before

4
Billy was sleepy, so he went to bed.

• The second way involves the use of a comma and
  the joining word so.

5
Billy was sleepy he went to bed.

• The third way is to use a semi-colon instead of a
  comma, which does away with having to use the
  joining word (coordinating conjunction) at all.
  Slick, huh?

The Super Comma
6
Because Billy was sleepy, he went to bed.

• The fourth way is by using a dependent word
  (subordinating conjunction) and a comma

7
Well, students, there you have it

• Remember, Run-On sentences are major no-nos and
  must be avoided, so you can
• Keep two simple sentences OR
• Use a comma and a joining word OR
• Use a semi-colon without a conjunction OR
• Use a dependent word and a comma.

• Billy was sleepy, he went to bed.
• Billy was sleepy, so he went to bed.
• Billy was sleepy, he went to bed.
• Because Billy was sleepy, he went to bed.