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!

A magnifying glass enlarging the word "Grammar."

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:

  1. Fused sentences: A fused sentence occurs when two independent clauses are joined without any punctuation. For example, “She loves painting she creates beautiful artwork.”
  2. 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.”

A gold exclamation point, a question mark, a full stop, quotation marks, and a comma placed one after the other.

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:

  1. “The sun is high. Put on some sunscreen.”
  2. “The sun is high; put on some sunscreen.”
  3. “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:

  1. “She enjoys playing tennis. It is her favorite sport.”
  2. “She enjoys playing tennis; it is her favorite sport.”
  3. “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:

  1. “She loves reading. She visits the library often.”
  2. “She loves reading; she visits the library often.”
  3. “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.

A wooden desk with lots of open books on top of it.

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 the Smodin Grammar Checker. 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 origin. The newest technology, generative AI, uses natural language processing to create content. There are quite a few AI tools that are dominating the tech space. Professionals from all walks of life, and even students, are starting to use these tools. Students turn to AI for homework help because it offers quick solutions and helps improve learning and problem-solving.

Learning how to make AI sound more human can improve your content, making it more engaging and relatable. If you’re using AI for content creation, like articles or academic essays, you’ve probably noticed that your text sounds robotic. The lack of nuance and inconsistent tone of voice are usually giveaways.

Rather than submitting AI-written text and hoping for the best, read on for tips to improve your content.

How To Spot AI-Generated Content

Generative AI tools try to mimic human writers by scanning text already on the Internet. They focus on sentence structure, length, phrases, and grammar. While this can sometimes work, AI-generated content usually lacks the natural flow of human writing.

Most of the time, AI tools create a generic writing style that feels mechanical. Without a human touch, the text can sound clunky and overly complicated. For example, the language might be too formal, using words like “leverage” or “refine” instead of more natural choices.

If you’re learning how to make AI writing sound more human, remember that tone and vocabulary make a big difference. 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 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 quickly analyze vast amounts of information, ensuring 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.”

Did you notice the signs? The language feels robotic and repetitive, especially in lists like “generate topic ideas, create outlines, and receive real-time suggestions.” It also uses complex structures like “By leveraging natural language processing…” This is common with AI content.

AI detectors look for sentence length, tone, and structure patterns. A language model can flag your content for being too generic if you don’t add personal flair. See this for yourself below:

 

Smodin’s screenshot of the Smodin AI detector tool.

 

Why Is It Important Not To Sound Like AI?

Sounding like AI can make your writing feel unnatural and monotonous. Readers want content that feels natural and personal. You might lose the connection with the audience if your writing lacks a human touch. Readers can tell when something doesn’t flow or seems generic.

So, knowing how to make AI writing sound more human helps keep your readers interested. Adding your voice, personality, and creativity will make your writing stand out. Ultimately, human-sounding writing is more relatable, memorable, and trustworthy.

Humanizing AI: How To Make AI 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 make AI sound human, read on!

1. Manually Humanize AI Text

The first way to bypass AI detection is to humanize your AI content manually. This is the most time-consuming but normally the most successful method. Once you know what to look out for, you won’t need to use a humanization AI text tool. By editing the content yourself, you can make it not sound like AI, adding a more natural tone and flow.

Before you start editing AI-generated content, you should always fact-check it. Tools like ChatGPT are leading AI text tools but aren’t always accurate in their output. You will often need to rewrite ChatGPT using human-sounding language.

An edited version of the AI text we provided earlier 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 scan vast online data to create essays that are well-researched and, most importantly, accurate and reliable.

Even better, AI tools combine natural language processing with 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 system breaks the content into multiple paragraphs.
  • There are no lists of three or generic writing styles often used by AI models.

 

 Smodin’s screenshot of the Smodin AI detector in use.

 

2. Give the AI Tool More Information

To avoid detection of AI-generated content, give the AI tool more information. For example, instead of asking, “Write a paragraph about how you can use AI to write an essay,” add specific instructions. The more detailed your request, the better the language model can adapt its tone and style to fit your needs.

While this is simple, it doesn’t encourage ChatGPT to reach its full potential. If you’re wondering how to make AI sound human, use prompts that specify tone, style, and audience. This approach helps the AI capture a more authentic, natural voice.

Let’s ask a more detailed question:

 

Smodin’s screenshot of using ChatGPT to write a paragraph.

 

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

 

Smodin’s screenshot of Copyleak’s AI detection tool.

 

3. Use a Human Text Converter Tool

Smodin’s AI Detection Remover tool is perfect for humanizing AI-generated content. This tool uses a language model to rephrase and refine text to make it feel natural and approachable. It’s especially useful for students and professionals looking to polish AI-written text so it reads smoothly and sounds human.

To use it, paste your AI-generated content into Smodin’s tool, and it will transform each sentence. This process not only enhances readability but also helps avoid plagiarism by creating unique phrasing. Smodin’s Rewriter tool can quickly make your text suitable for any setting. You’ll notice an immediate difference in tone and flow.

 

Smodin’s screenshot of Smodin Rewriter AI Detection Remover Tool.

 

 

Remember that AI detectors use advanced algorithms to detect content. While AI remover tools can be helpful, you’ll likely still need to tweak the text to impress an AI detection tool.

4. Choose Analogies Over Metaphors

When writing with a language model, analogies can feel more natural than metaphors. Analogies compare two things clearly, helping the reader understand your point without confusion. On the other hand, metaphors can sometimes sound overly dramatic or abstract.

For example, instead of saying, “His ideas were a tidal wave,” you could say, “His ideas spread quickly, like wildfire.” Analogies offer clarity, making your writing more relatable and easier to understand.

Use analogies to connect with readers in a straightforward, engaging way.

5. Integrate Natural Collocations

Using natural collocations can make your writing style sound smoother and more human. Collocations are word pairs that naturally go together, like “make a decision” or “take a break.” These combinations sound more familiar to readers and improve the flow of your text.

Avoid awkward or forced phrasing by choosing words that naturally fit together. For example, instead of saying “perform an answer,” say “give an answer.” This small change helps keep your content clear and engaging, making it easier for readers to follow.

Focus on collocations to make your writing sound more fluent and conversational.

6. Use Adverbs Sparingly

Adverbs can weaken your writing style if used too often. They can make sentences feel cluttered or overly detailed. Instead of relying on adverbs, choose stronger verbs to create clearer, more concise sentences.

For example, instead of saying “walked quickly,” say “rushed.” This keeps your writing sharper and more engaging. Adverbs are helpful, but using them sparingly makes your content more effective and readable.

Focus on clean, direct language to enhance your writing style without unnecessary words.

7. Add Formatting and Images

Adding formatting and images makes your writing more engaging and easier to read. Break up large blocks of text with headings, bullet points, or bold text. This helps guide the reader through your content and keeps their attention.

Images can also help explain complex ideas or highlight key points. Visuals make your content more interesting and enjoyable for readers. Simple formatting and well-placed images can greatly improve the overall impact of your writing.

Why Was My Content Flagged As AI?

AI detectors might have flagged your content because it follows patterns often seen in AI-generated writing. AI tools sometimes create repetitive phrases or unnatural transitions that don’t match human writing style. The content could also use overly complex sentences or formal language, which doesn’t sound conversational.

AI detectors look for these patterns in structure, tone, and word choices. If your writing lacks variety or sounds too mechanical. To avoid having your content detected as AI-written, personalize it and focus on improving its natural flow.

How To Make AI Sound More Human Using Smodin

Smodin’s AI detection remover tool is an ideal choice if you need AI-generated text to read more naturally. This tool refines content by adjusting tone, flow, and phrasing to make your text sound authentic and human-like. Whether you’re working on essays, articles, or other professional writing, it helps bypass detection flags while maintaining a smooth, conversational style.

But Smodin offers more than just detection removal. It’s a full suite of tools designed for students, writers, and professionals aiming for quality and efficiency. With Smodin, you can easily generate content, improve sentence structure, summarize lengthy documents, and create citations – all from one place. Each tool saves time and boosts content quality, letting you focus on developing strong ideas and arguments.

If you’re still wondering how to make AI sound more human, Smodin’s tools provide the support you need.  Sign up today and experience AI tools that bring out your best work!

FAQs

Are AI humanizers free to use?

No, most AI humanizers aren’t completely free. Many offer limited free access, but regular use often requires a paid plan. This may work for high-output content creators but can be costly for students or casual users.

With Smodin’s AI Content Detection Remover tool, you get several free uses to try it out. For those needing more, Smodin offers budget-friendly plans, making it accessible for both students and professional writers alike.

Will Smodin AI flag in AI content detectors?

If you copy content directly from Smodin AI, it might be flagged by AI content detectors. To maintain high content quality, use Smodin’s AI content remover to rephrase and humanize text. This tool helps refine your writing, making it sound natural while keeping a professional, human touch.

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 AI content detectors flag your academic essays, you may face penalties.

AI writers have many uses, like helping you generate ideas or structure your thoughts. 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 touch. Just make sure to fact-check all content quality generated by the tool.

Does ChatGPT have a humanizer?

No, ChatGPT doesn’t include a built-in humanizer feature. To make AI-generated content sound more human, you can edit it manually by adjusting sentence flow, tone, and word choice. Try Smodin’s AI content remover to refine AI-generated content, making it sound natural and authentic. This tool makes it easy to adjust language, enhancing readability and improving the human quality of your writing.