Run-on Sentences—exercises
Rock Valley College Writing Center
ERC 2402 815.921.3327
Run-on Sentences—exercises
Created by Molly Sides
Definition
A run-on sentence is a common sentence error in which two or more
independent clauses are combined without the use of appropriate punctuation.
Practice
Use the strategies you have learned to fix the run-on sentences in the following
examples:
1. Herman Melville’s novel, Moby Dick, is written in the voice of Ishmael but
Ishmael’s role in the book is actually fairly minimal.
2. Through Ishmael, readers learn a tale of high adventure, Captain Ahab is the
most central figure in the book.
3. Captain Ahab is on the hunt for his nemesis it’s hard to believe a whale could
inspire so much hatred and vengeance in someone, but Captain Ahab
hates the whale called Moby Dick.
4. Ishmael has contracted to work on Ahab’s ship with many other characters
even though we get to know the other characters they remain flat in
comparison to Ahab.
Writing Center Handout
Run-on Sentences exercises.docx
5. Ahab is designed as a looming figure who walks the ship’s deck at night, the
shipmates all hear Ahab’s wooden leg as Ahab paces his vessel on the open
sea.
6. As the story unfolds, bits and pieces of Ahab’s personal history are revealed
and readers get to know more about his past experiences hunting whales.
7. The story’s progress also reveals more and more about Moby Dick each time
Ahab’s ship encounters another ship the seamen trade goods and change
stories while Ahab asks if anyone has seen the legendary whale.
8. With each interaction, Ahab’s rage and passion heightens, the chase for the
whale intensifies.
9. By the end of the story readers think of the whale as a massive and vicious
beast and some readers may even begin to sympathize with Ahab, though
many critics and readers view Captain Ahab as a type of madman.
10. Ahab’s story is told by Ishmael, though, because in Ahab’s final encounter
with the whale the whale is the victor the ship goes down.