Run-on Sentences and Comma Splices

10/18/14: Sorry. I haven't updated for a while now because of personal and college life issues. I guess I got too caught up with things.
Anyways, seeing how some of your had left a few recommendations here and there, I decided to update maybe three lessons/tips for this week. I'll be trying, though I can't promise you anything. It depends on my mood actually. Regardless, I hope you enjoy this one... or not. :)

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Run-on Sentences...

A run-on sentence (sometimes called a "fused sentence") has at least two parts, either one of which can stand by itself (in other words, two independent clauses), but the two parts have been smooshed together instead of being properly connected. An extremely long sentence, on the other hand, might be a "run-off-at-the-mouth" sentence, but it can be otherwise sound, structurally. It is important to realize that the length of a sentence really has nothing to do with whether a sentence is a run-on or not; being a run-on is a structural flaw that can plague even a very short sentence:

The sun has set, remove your sunglasses.

When two independent clauses are connected by only a comma, they constitute a run-on sentence that is called a comma-splice. The example just above (about the sunglasses) is a comma-splice. When you use a comma to connect two independent clauses, it must be accompanied by a little conjunction (and, but, for, nor, yet, or, so).

The sun has set, so remove your sunglasses.

When an independent clause gives an order or directive based on what was said in the prior independent clause:

Wrong: Chanyeol has a lot of work to do at the shop, you should help him right away.

You can put a period where that comma is and start a new sentence. A semicolon might also work there since the two independent clauses are related with the similar thoughts. The coordination conjunction 'so' can also work as well with a comma before it. Hence, here are the following revisions:

Correct: Chanyeol has a lot of work to do at the shop. You should help him right away.
Correct: Chanyeol has a lot of work to do at the shop; you should help him right away.
Correct: Chanyeol has a lot of work to do at the shop, so you should help him right away.
 

When two independent clauses are connected by a transitional expression (conjunctive verb) such as however, moreover, and nevertheless.

Wrong: Chanyeol decided to visit the Philippines and donate five million won to those affected by the recent thypoon, however, his fans knew of his visit and created havoc at the airport. 

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