Fused or Run-on Sentences

A fused sentence (or run-on) occurs when two independent clauses are joined without punctuation or without a coordinating conjunction.

Fused sentence: Independent clause independent clause.

At first I wanted to be a doctor now I don't.

Some easy ways to correct a fused sentence are as follows:

1. Add a period after the first independent clause and capitalize the next word. (IC. IC)

At first I wanted to be a doctor. Now I don't.

2. Add a semicolon after the first independent clause. (IC; IC)

At first I wanted to be a doctor; now I don't.

3. Add a comma and a coordinating conjunction after the first independent clause. (IC, CC IC)

At first I wanted to be a doctor, but now I don't.