Run-on (fused) sentences

Run-on Ronnie

“Never stops talking. Never takes a breath.”

What's the problem?

An independent clause can stand alone as a sentence. A fused sentence joins two independent clauses without appropriate punctuation or a connecting word. ‘Run-on’ is often used as a broader term that includes fused sentences and comma splices. In LinguaBeasts, Ronnie represents fused sentences, while Spike represents comma splices. Sentence length alone does not make a sentence a run-on.

✗ Gremlin-infested

I finished my shift at midnight I still had to write the essay.

✓ Fixed

I finished my shift at midnight, but I still had to write the essay.

Why it works

Both halves are complete sentences. The comma plus “but” joins them and shows the contrast. A period or semicolon would also work.