What best describes a run-on sentence and how do you fix it?

• A. A sentence that lacks a subject.
• B. A sentence that uses too many adjectives.
• C. A run-on improperly joins two or more independent clauses; fix with a period, semicolon, or conjunction.
• D. A sentence that repeats the same word.

Answer: (C)

A run-on sentence happens when two independent clauses are joined without proper punctuation. Each clause could stand alone as its own sentence, but they’re fused together in a way that makes the writing hard to follow. To fix it, separate the clauses with a period, or connect them with a semicolon if the ideas are closely related, or use a coordinating conjunction (with a comma). This description fits best because it identifies the problem—improperly joining independent clauses—and it also gives valid ways to correct it. Lacking a subject creates a sentence fragment, not a run-on. Using too many adjectives is a stylistic issue, and repeating the same word is redundancy, not about how clauses are joined.