What is a comma splice?
A comma splice occurs when a comma incorrectly separates two independent clauses.
I went to the mall, Jane went to the zoo.
"I went to the mall" and "Jane went to the zoo" are independent clauses, as they contain a subject and a verb and can grammatically stand on their own as complete sentences. Using a comma to separate the two clauses creates a comma splice and a type of run-on sentence.
Comma splice examples
The following sentences each contain an example of a comma splice:
Dan was late, we started the movie without him.
The class was incredibly easy, most students earned an A.
Stephanie felt uneasy, her speech was under the time requirement.
Tina and Leon drove down the street, the turn signal was on the entire time.
Dr. Miller performed the surgery, she finished in record time.
How to fix a comma splice
There are four main ways to correct comma splices with minimal changes to the sentence.
Period: Separate the two independent clauses into their own sentences if the ideas are not closely related.
Incorrect: The dog enjoys running through the sprinkler, the cat sleeps inside all day.
Correct: The dog enjoys running through the sprinkler. The cat sleeps inside all day.
Semicolon: If the two independent clauses are closely related, replace the comma with a semicolon.
Incorrect: The dog loves running around the yard all day, the cat prefers sleeping in the sun.
Correct: The dog loves running around the yard all day; the cat prefers sleeping in the sun.
Coordinating conjunction: Add a coordinating conjunction (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, or so) after the comma splice.
Incorrect: The dog likes to play outside, the cat prefers staying inside.
Correct: The dog likes to play outside, but the cat prefers staying inside.
Subordinating conjunction: Use a subordinating conjunction (e.g., as if, because, despite, unless, whether, whereas, while, etc.) to turn one of the independent clauses into a dependent clause.
Incorrect: The dog ate all of the food, the cat was hungry.
Correct: Because the dog ate all of the food, the cat was hungry.
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