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The Run-on Sentence: From Here To Eternity  by: Jean Fritz If you find your sentences filled with commas, and they wend from one topic to another, then you, like many 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 work 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 teenage girl, run-ons would be acceptable (“Well, we went, you know, to the mall, and, like, we tried on some clothes and makeup, and then Sheila saw this really 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. When 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 other major topics, reference those topics in your initial paragraph, but address them in other paragraphs (or chapters.) This acts as a “teaser” to your audience, leaves them wanting more, and motivates them to read on. These instructions sound like high school stuff, but I recently edited 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 standpoint of maintaining consciousness. So for the sake of your readers, form a working relationship with semicolons and periods, and leave run-ons to the Valley Girls. About The Author Jean Fritz is the owner and chief editor for JMT Publications (http://jmtpubs.tripod.com), a company specializing in helping self-publishing authors get into print. For more information on self-publication or to subscribe to her free newsletter, Writers' Notes, visit the JMT Publications website. jeantype@excite.com This article was posted on September 15, 2004 Read More Articles from the "Writing" Category: Tips For Cover Letters To Get More Interviews by Heather Eagar How To Check the Spelling of Names Used as References in a Research Paper by Jan Kovarik The Copywriter's Secret Weapon Against Readers' Fear by Eric Lynch Write A Picture! by Nick Smith Nice Twist by J Square Humboldt How To Select a Great Topic For Your Book or Ebook Part 3 of 5 by Aaron Morganstern Writing Well-- 6 Steps to Being Your Own Best Editor by Marige O'Brien 7 Steps to Successful Publishing by Ink Tree Ltd. Beginner's Blues: How to Collect Samples, Testimonials, and References as a Freelancer by Brian Konradt Writing and Walking – Beating Writer’s Block by Rick Chapo << Back to "Writing" Index

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