Writing clear and concise sentences is a fundamental skill. One common writing error that many people make is creating run-on sentences. These sentences occur when two or more independent clauses are improperly joined. Understanding how to fix run on sentences can improve your writing significantly. This guide will explain how to identify and correct run on sentences, ensuring your writing is grammatically correct and easy to understand. So, let’s dive in!

What Is a Run On Sentence?

A run-on sentence is when two or more independent clauses (complete sentences that can stand on their own) are connected without the proper punctuation or conjunctions. This creates a sentence that “runs on” without a clear structure, making it difficult for readers to understand.

For example, consider the sentence: “I love reading books I find them fascinating.” You can see two sentences that can exist on their own but lack the proper punctuation or conjunctions to separate them. Hence, if we do not use the appropriate punctuation this sentence is not grammatically correct and can affect the writing flow of our piece.

Types of Run On Sentences

There are several types of run-on sentences, including fused sentences and comma splices. In more detail:

Fused sentences: A fused sentence occurs when two independent clauses are joined without any punctuation. For example, “She loves painting she creates beautiful artwork.”
Comma splices: These happen when two independent clauses are joined by a comma without a coordinating conjunction. For example, “She loves painting, she creates beautiful artwork.”

Fixing Run On Sentences

Correcting run-on sentences involves adjusting the way independent clauses are connected. Here are a few ways to fix these sentences.

1. Use a Period

The simplest way to fix a run-on sentence is to separate the independent clauses with a period. This creates two distinct sentences. For example:

Incorrect: “I love to write papers I would write one every day if I had the time.”
Correct: “I love to write papers. I would write one every day if I had the time.”

2. Use a Semicolon

A semicolon can be used to connect two closely related independent clauses. This method helps maintain the relationship between the clauses while making the sentence grammatically correct. For example:

Incorrect: “I love to write papers I would write one every day if I had the time.”
Correct: “I love to write papers; I would write one every day if I had the time.”

3. Use a Comma and a Coordinating Conjunction

A comma combined with a coordinating conjunction (such as “and,” “but,” or “or”) can also fix a run-on sentence. This method highlights the connection between the clauses. For example:

Incorrect: “I love to write papers I would write one every day if I had the time.”
Correct: “I love to write papers, and I would write one every day if I had the time.”

4. Use a Subordinating Conjunction

Turning one of the independent clauses into a dependent clause with a subordinating conjunction (such as “because,” “although,” or “when”) can also fix a run-on sentence. This method emphasizes the relationship between the two clauses. For example:

Incorrect: “I love to write papers I would write one every day if I had the time.”
Correct: “Because I love to write papers, I would write one every day if I had the time.”

Examples of Run On Sentences and How To Fix Them

If you want to improve your essay-writing skills or ensure you produce a good piece of writing for any occasion, you need to be able to adjust run-on sentences to be grammatically correct. Here are some examples of run-on sentences and their corrections to help you gauge familiarity.

Example 1:

Incorrect: “The sun is high put on some sunscreen.”

You can adjust this sentence in various ways to correct it, such as:

“The sun is high. Put on some sunscreen.”
“The sun is high; put on some sunscreen.”
“The sun is high, so put on some sunscreen.”

Example 2:

Incorrect: “She enjoys playing tennis it is her favorite sport.”

You can rewrite this sentence by adding the correct punctuation or by using a subordinating conjunction to make it more grammatically correct:

“She enjoys playing tennis. It is her favorite sport.”
“She enjoys playing tennis; it is her favorite sport.”
“She enjoys playing tennis because it is her favorite sport.”

Understanding Comma Splices

A comma splice is a common type of run-on sentence where two independent clauses are joined by a comma without a coordinating conjunction. Here’s an example:

Incorrect: “She loves reading, she visits the library often.”

The more accurate and grammatically correct version of this sentence can be one of the three examples below:

“She loves reading. She visits the library often.”
“She loves reading; she visits the library often.”
“She loves reading, and she visits the library often.”

To fix a comma splice, you can use a period, a semicolon, or a comma with a coordinating conjunction.

The Importance of Proper Punctuation

Appropriate punctuation is crucial if you want to write better sentences for a research paper, for example, or for other occasions, too. Without proper punctuation, a run-on sentence can confuse readers and disrupt the flow of your writing.

Correcting these sentences by using periods, semicolons, and commas appropriately ensures that your writing is clear and concise.

According to a survey by Tidio, where 1,839 people took part, correct grammar is important in a piece of writing. During this survey, almost 97% of participants stated that grammar mistakes can influence the way they perceive a person or company. Hence, proper grammar and punctuation are essential, no matter whom a piece of writing is for.

How to Fix Run On Sentences: Frequently Asked Questions

How can I identify a run-on sentence?

You can identify a run-on sentence by looking for independent clauses that are not correctly connected. If a sentence contains two or more complete thoughts but lacks proper punctuation or conjunctions, it is likely a run-on sentence.

What are the common types of run-on sentences?

The common types of run-on sentences are fused sentences and comma splices. Fused sentences have no punctuation between independent clauses, while comma splices use a comma without a coordinating conjunction.

How can I fix a run-on sentence?

Separate sentences and clauses with a period. Other options are to use a semicolon or add a comma with a coordinating conjunction. This turns one of the clauses into a dependent clause with a subordinating conjunction.

Why is it important to correct run-on sentences?

Correcting a run-on sentence is important because it can confuse readers and disrupt the flow of your writing. Proper punctuation and sentence structure ensure that your writing is clear and easy to understand.

Enhance Your Writing With Smodin Today

Run-on sentences are a common writing error that can confuse readers and weaken your writing. By understanding what a run-on sentence is and how to fix it, you can improve the clarity and effectiveness of your writing.

Remember to use periods, semicolons, and commas with coordinating conjunctions, and subordinating conjunctions to connect your independent clauses correctly. With practice, you can avoid run-on sentences and write a clear, concise, grammatically correct, complete sentence.

If you need help with your writing or want to improve your grammar, consider using online tools like Smodin. These tools can help you catch run-on sentences and other common grammar errors. Use Smodin and produce great pieces of writing while enhancing your grammar skills.

AI has come a long way since its birth in 1956. The newest technology, known as generative AI, uses natural language processing to create content. Tools like ChatGPT and Jasper are dominating the tech space. They’re not just for marketers. Professionals from all walks of life, and even students, are starting to use these tools!

If you’re using AI for content creation, whether it’s articles or academic essays, you’ve probably noticed one thing. Your text sounds robotic. A combination of long sentences and clunky vocabulary is a sure giveaway that your work isn’t your own.

Rather than submitting AI-written text and hoping for the best, read on. We’re discussing how you can make any text generated by an AI tool sound more human.

How To Spot AI-Generated Content

Generative AI writing tools try their best to sound like human writers. They do this by scanning words already out there on the internet and focus on:

Sentence structure
Sentence length
Phrases
Grammar and syntax
Article coherence

While this can work, most of the time, AI tools write in a generic writing style. Without human touch, the text can sound clunky and be overly complicated. Let’s look at an example of AI-generated content.

“AI can be a valuable tool for writing essays by providing structured assistance throughout the entire writing process. Using AI-powered writing assistants, students can generate topic ideas, create outlines, and receive real-time suggestions for improving their content. These tools can analyze vast amounts of information quickly, ensuring that the essay is well-researched and factually accurate. By leveraging natural language processing and machine learning algorithms, AI can also offer personalized feedback, helping users refine their arguments and enhance overall clarity.”

So, how can we tell this isn’t human writing?

It uses lists of three – “generate topic ideas, create outlines, and receive real-time suggestions”
It uses clunky language that doesn’t reflect human creativity – “Leveraging”, “Refine”, and “Enhance”
It uses a complex sentence structure with a participial phrase. For example: “By leveraging natural language processing and machine learning algorithms, AI can…”

AI detectors also recognize these generic elements and patterns and will flag the content. If you don’t add a personal touch to your writing, you could face penalization. Observe below:

The entire paragraph flags on the AI Detector of Copyleaks.

The 3 Ways To Make Your AI Content Sound More Human

There are three ways to turn your AI-generated text into human-like content. If you’d like to learn how to humanize AI, read on!

1. Manually Humanize AI Text

The first way to bypass AI detection is to manually humanize your AI content. This is the most time-consuming way but normally the most successful. Once you know what to look out for, you won’t need to use a humanization AI text tool.

Let’s take our previous AI-generated content example:

Before you start editing AI-generated content, you should always fact-check it. Tools like ChatGPT are not always accurate, even though the software is the leading AI text tool on the market, according to Statista.

An edited version may look like this:

“For students who don’t have much time, AI tools like ChatGPT can prove invaluable at every step of the writing process. Whether it’s helping to generate topic ideas or creating outlines with a clear structure, AI gives suggestions almost instantly. But how?

These tools work by scanning vast amounts of information available on the internet to make essays that are well-researched and, most importantly, accurate.

Even better, AI tools combine natural language processing with their machine learning algorithms to offer personalized feedback. All this can help students to refine their arguments and make their points clear.”

This is clearly written in human form because:

It uses a variety of sentence structures, combining simple and complex.
The language is simple and makes sense in the context of the paragraph.
The content is broken up into multiple paragraphs.
There are no lists of three or generic writing styles often used by AI models.

Copyleaks recognizes this by concluding the paragraph is “human text.”

Try converting AI-generated text yourself to add your own flair and style.

2. Give the AI Tool More Information

Another way to bypass AI content detectors is to give the AI tool more information. For the example we’re using, the brief was to “Write a paragraph about how you can use AI to write an essay for you.”

While this is simple, it doesn’t encourage ChatGPT to reach its full potential. The tool can adapt the tone and style of the article depending on your needs.

Let’s ask a more detailed question:

Of course, artificial intelligence will never output the perfect paragraph. This answer still flags in Copyleaks. However, it will take you less time to humanize AI content if you give the tool more to work with.

Let’s quickly adapt this for human readers:

“Think of using AI to write your academic essays as having a personal tutor always at your side. Let’s say, hypothetically, you’re staring at a blank screen. You have no idea how to start your introduction. Nothing you write sounds good enough.

With AI, you can just type in your topic and let it write a catchy opener for you. It’s a great tool for brainstorming your ideas, too. Say you’ve got an essay to write about climate change. In just a few seconds, ChatGPT can provide interesting facts you’ve never heard of.

You can even get some tips on your grammar and writing style. Don’t pass up the chance to have a personal tutor available 24/7!”

Here, we’ve kept the main ideas from ChatGPT but edited it to be more user-friendly. And, even better, it took far less time!

3. Use a Human Text Converter Tool

The fastest way to make your artificial intelligence content sound natural is to use an AI text converter. These tools take content generated by generative AI and use more AI to bypass detectors. This isn’t a foolproof method. It’s still always better to edit text yourself and this way you can avoid plagiarism, too. But if you’ve got a tight deadline, these tools can help in a pinch.

There are thousands of AI-to-human text converters available, each claiming to be “100% successful.” Some are better than others. At Smodin, we recommend the following tools:

WriteHuman
Undetectable AI
RewriterPro.ai
Bypass AI

Let’s take a look at how WriteHuman converts our original example into human-sounding text.

Below, we can see that despite claiming to have a human score of “99.84%,” Copyleaks still flags the text.

Remember that AI detectors use advanced algorithms to detect content. While AI text humanizers can be helpful, you’ll likely still need to tweak the text to impress Copyleaks. Here’s a better version of the human-like text:

“Artificial intelligence (AI) can help you write your essay by giving you support at every single stage of your writing process. AI writing aids like ChatGPT will help you to think up new topics that make your content more interesting. They will also help you to create a natural essay structure that flows well.

You can even get suggestions for improving your content as you progress with writing.

These AI tools are capable of quickly sifting through tons of data to make sure your essay is well-researched and, more importantly, factual.

Also, NLP and ML-based algorithms mean that tools like ChatGPT can give you tips that are personalized to you so you can make your work clearer overall.”

We’re not saying that AI text humanizers aren’t a helpful tool to have in your kit. It’s just still important to add your human oversight to the work. No AI tool will ever beat your creativity and flair.

FAQs

Are AI humanizers free to use?

No, the vast majority of AI humanizers aren’t free. Some offer free trials, but if you want to use them regularly, you have to pay. This is likely only worth it if you’re a content creator outputting thousands of words. For students, paying for humanizers can be too costly – this outweighs the benefits.

It’s better to pay for AI technology that can actually expand your understanding of a subject, like Smodin AI. Smodin is a homework helper that can give you in-depth insights into complicated homework topics.

Will Smodin AI flag in AI content detectors?

We never recommend directly copying from Smodin AI for your homework. Instead, it should be used as a learning tool. It’s designed to expand your knowledge of topics so you can create your own human content with ease.

Can I use tools like ChatGPT to generate my entire academic essay?

You can use text tools like ChatGPT to write your essays for you, but it can be risky. If your academic essays get flagged in AI content detectors, you could face penalties.

Instead of letting ChatGPT do the work for you, why not use it as a guide? You can still take the main points of the generated article but add your own touch. Just make sure to fact-check all content generated by the tool. ChatGPT isn’t always accurate!

Get Help With Your Academic Essay Using Smodin AI Tools

Smodin AI is the number one tool for students looking to boost their grades. Our AI tool is designed to expand your knowledge of complicated topics. Smodin can generate high-quality text with references on your behalf. It can even generate MLA and APA essays, so you don’t need to waste countless hours on formatting!

It even has an AI detector and plagiarism tools built in. With Smodin AI, you can check the quality of your academic essays instantly.

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How To Fix Run On Sentences