Run-on Sentences (r-o)

Independent clauses must be separated by a period (.) or a semi-
colon (;) or combined with a coordinator or subordinator.  If they are not properly separated or combined, the result is called a run-on sentence:

    1.  *An old woman lived in the house, she surprised Hansel and
         Gretel they were eating parts of her house.

Possible corrections:

    2.  An old woman lived in the house.  She surprised Hansel and
         and Gretel.  They were eating parts of her house.

    3.  The old woman who lived in the house surprised Hansel and
         Gretel as they were eating parts of her house.

Sometimes a period or semicolon is the best way to fix a run-on, but very often the use of a coordinator or subordinator will make the
meaning clearer and the style smoother.  Think about it; don't always choose the easiest correction.

Links:    

    Fixing run-ons:  runons
    Punctuation, subordinators, transitionals:  runon1.htm
    Another one:  runon2.htm