Chapter 38 (Sec. 2)
Comma Splices and
Fused Sentences
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Chapter 38 (2): Comma Splices and Fused Sentences
What is a Comma Splice?

A comma splice is two main clauses
(complete sentences) joined by only
a comma.
Example:
Nearly all the people who worked
there had the same habit, it was a
habit that had always annoyed
Bernard.
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Chapter 38 (2): Comma Splices and Fused Sentences
What is a Fused Sentence?

A fused sentence (also known as a
run-on) is two main clauses
(complete sentences) joined without
any punctuation.
Example:
Bernard loved his part-time job at the
local newspaper there was one
problem.
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Chapter 38 (2): Comma Splices and Fused Sentences
How can you identify comma
splices and fused sentences?



Find each of the main clauses in a
sentence.
Check to see how they are joined. Is there
any punctuation between them? If not,
you may be looking at a fused sentence.
If there is a comma between main clauses,
look for a coordinating conjunction (like
and, but, for, so, or, yet). If there is none,
you may be looking at a comma splice.
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Chapter 38 (2): Comma Splices and Fused Sentences
How can you correct comma
splices and fused sentences?
Comma splice: I respect my father, he provides me with all my needs.
Fused sentence: I respect my father he provides me with all my needs.
There are four ways to correct these:
1. Write separate complete sentences.
I respect my father. He provides me with all my needs.
2. Use a comma and a coordinating conjunction.
I respect my father, for he provides me with all my needs.
3. Use a semicolon or a colon. (You may use a conjunctive adverb
+ comma after a semicolon.)
I respect my father; he provides me with all my needs.
4. Use subordination.
I respect my father because he provides me with all my needs.
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Chapter 38 (2): Comma Splices and Fused Sentences
1. How would you correct this
sentence?
The reason was very simple, most people stacked
books, papers, and other stuff on their chairs.
A) The reason was very simple, most people.
Stacked books, papers, and other stuff on their
chairs.
B) The reason was very simple, most people stacked
books, papers, and other stuff. On their chairs.
C) The reason was very simple. Most people stacked
books, papers, and other stuff on their chairs.
D) none of the above
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Chapter 38 (2): Comma Splices and Fused Sentences
1. How would you correct this
sentence?
The reason was very simple, most people stacked
books, papers, and other stuff on their chairs.
ANSWER:
A) The reason was very simple, most people.
Stacked books, papers, and other stuff on their
chairs.
B) The reason was very simple, most people stacked
books, papers, and other stuff. On their chairs.
C) The reason was very simple. Most people stacked
books, papers, and other stuff on their chairs.
D) none of the above
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Chapter 38 (2): Comma Splices and Fused Sentences
2. How would you correct this
sentence?
To his astonishment, everyone he asked agreed they
said they would clear everything off their chairs.
A) To his astonishment; everyone he asked agreed they
said they would clear everything off their chairs.
B) To his astonishment, everyone he asked agreed; they
said they would clear everything off their chairs.
C) To his astonishment, everyone he asked agreed they
said; they would clear everything off their chairs.
D) none of the above
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Chapter 38 (2): Comma Splices and Fused Sentences
2. How would you correct this
sentence?
To his astonishment, everyone he asked agreed they
said they would clear everything off their chairs.
ANSWER:
A) To his astonishment; everyone he asked agreed they
said they would clear everything off their chairs.
B) To his astonishment, everyone he asked agreed; they
said they would clear everything off their chairs.
C) To his astonishment, everyone he asked agreed they
said; they would clear everything off their chairs.
D) none of the above
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Chapter 38 (2): Comma Splices and Fused Sentences
3. How would you correct this
sentence?
Bernard’s accomplishment was short-lived it
wasn’t long before each of those chairs began to
develop a fresh pile of books all over again.
A) Bernard’s accomplishment was short-lived, and
it wasn’t long before each of those chairs began
to develop a fresh pile of books all over again.
B) Bernard’s accomplishment was short-lived it
wasn’t long, and before each of those chairs
began to develop a fresh pile of books all over
again.
C) Bernard’s accomplishment was short-lived, or it
wasn’t long before each of those chairs began
to develop a fresh pile of books all over again.
D) none of the above
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Chapter 38 (2): Comma Splices and Fused Sentences
3. How would you correct this
sentence?
Bernard’s accomplishment was short-lived it
wasn’t long before each of those chairs began to
develop a fresh pile of books all over again.
ANSWER:
A) Bernard’s accomplishment was short-lived, and
it wasn’t long before each of those chairs began
to develop a fresh pile of books all over again.
B) Bernard’s accomplishment was short-lived it
wasn’t long, and before each of those chairs
began to develop a fresh pile of books all over
again.
C) Bernard’s accomplishment was short-lived, or it
wasn’t long before each of those chairs began
to develop a fresh pile of books all over again.
D) none of the above
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Chapter 38 (2): Comma Splices and Fused Sentences
4. How would you correct this
sentence?
Having a dog in the neighborhood probably made it
safer for everyone that nonstop barking was
intolerable.
A) Having a dog in the neighborhood probably made
it safer for everyone, that nonstop barking was
intolerable.
B) Having a dog in the neighborhood probably made
it safer for everyone, even though that nonstop
barking was intolerable.
C) Having a dog in the neighborhood probably made
it safer for everyone, and that nonstop barking
was intolerable.
D) none of the above
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Chapter 38 (2): Comma Splices and Fused Sentences
4. How would you correct this
sentence?
Having a dog in the neighborhood probably made it
safer for everyone that nonstop barking was
intolerable.
ANSWER:
A) Having a dog in the neighborhood probably made
it safer for everyone, that nonstop barking was
intolerable.
B) Having a dog in the neighborhood probably made
it safer for everyone, even though that nonstop
barking was intolerable.
C) Having a dog in the neighborhood probably made
it safer for everyone, and that nonstop barking
was intolerable.
D) none of the above
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Chapter 38 (2): Comma Splices and Fused Sentences
5. How would you correct this
sentence?
Anthony was careful with money, his friends
weren’t always so financially savvy.
A) Anthony was careful with money, and his
friends weren’t always so financially savvy.
B) Though Anthony was careful with money, his
friends weren’t always so financially savvy.
C) Anthony was careful with money, so his
friends weren’t always so financially savvy.
D) none of the above
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Chapter 38 (2): Comma Splices and Fused Sentences
5. How would you correct this
sentence?
Anthony was careful with money, his friends
weren’t always so financially savvy.
ANSWER:
A) Anthony was careful with money, and his
friends weren’t always so financially savvy.
B) Though Anthony was careful with money, his
friends weren’t always so financially savvy.
C) Anthony was careful with money, so his
friends weren’t always so financially savvy.
D) none of the above
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Chapter 38 (2): Comma Splices and Fused Sentences
6. How would you correct this
sentence?
Jeffrey was always asking someone for a loan,
Anthony assumed this didn’t embarrass Jeffrey.
A) Jeffrey was always asking someone for a loan,
Anthony assumed, this didn’t embarrass Jeffrey.
B) Jeffrey was always asking someone for a loan, and
Anthony assumed this didn’t embarrass Jeffrey.
C) Jeffrey was always asking someone for a loan
Anthony assumed this didn’t embarrass Jeffrey.
D) none of the above
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Chapter 38 (2): Comma Splices and Fused Sentences
6. How would you correct this
sentence?
Jeffrey was always asking someone for a loan, Anthony
assumed this didn’t embarrass Jeffrey.
ANSWER:
A) Jeffrey was always asking someone for a loan, Anthony
assumed, this didn’t embarrass Jeffrey.
B) Jeffrey was always asking someone for a loan, and
Anthony assumed this didn’t embarrass Jeffrey.
C) Jeffrey was always asking someone for a loan Anthony
assumed this didn’t embarrass Jeffrey.
D) none of the above
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Chapter 38 (2): Comma Splices and Fused Sentences
7. How would you correct this
sentence?
Jeffrey always repaid the money he borrowed from
Anthony, he repaid it even after his promotion fell
through.
A) Jeffrey always repaid the money he borrowed from
Anthony he repaid it; even after his promotion fell
through.
B) Jeffrey always repaid the money he borrowed from
Anthony he repaid it even after his promotion fell
through.
C) Jeffrey always repaid the money he borrowed from
Anthony; he repaid it even after his promotion fell
through.
D) none of the above
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Chapter 38 (2): Comma Splices and Fused Sentences
7. How would you correct this
sentence?
Jeffrey always repaid the money he borrowed from
Anthony, he repaid it even after his promotion fell
through.
ANSWER:
A) Jeffrey always repaid the money he borrowed from
Anthony he repaid it; even after his promotion fell
through.
B) Jeffrey always repaid the money he borrowed from
Anthony he repaid it even after his promotion fell
through.
C) Jeffrey always repaid the money he borrowed from
Anthony; he repaid it even after his promotion fell
through.
D) none of the above
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Chapter 38 (2): Comma Splices and Fused Sentences
8. How would you correct this
sentence?
Every week, Lenny spent his whole paycheck, he liked to
buy things like expensive cameras, fine clothes, and
designer shoes.
A) Every week, Lenny spent his whole paycheck, or he
liked to buy things like expensive cameras, fine
clothes, and designer shoes.
B) Every week, Lenny spent his whole paycheck, he liked
to buy things like expensive cameras. Fine clothes,
and designer shoes.
C) Every week, Lenny spent his whole paycheck. He liked
to buy things like expensive cameras, fine clothes,
and designer shoes.
D) none of the above
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Chapter 38 (2): Comma Splices and Fused Sentences
8. How would you correct this
sentence?
Every week, Lenny spent his whole paycheck, he liked to
buy things like expensive cameras, fine clothes, and
designer shoes.
ANSWER:
A) Every week, Lenny spent his whole paycheck, or he
liked to buy things like expensive cameras, fine
clothes, and designer shoes.
B) Every week, Lenny spent his whole paycheck, he liked
to buy things like expensive cameras. Fine clothes,
and designer shoes.
C) Every week, Lenny spent his whole paycheck. He liked
to buy things like expensive cameras, fine clothes,
and designer shoes.
D) none of the above
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Chapter 38 (2): Comma Splices and Fused Sentences
9. How would you correct this
sentence?
Anthony had a few tricks he had learned for saving money,
one of them was throwing all of his small change into a jar.
A) Anthony had a few tricks he had learned for saving
money though one of them was throwing all of his
small change into a jar.
B) Anthony had a few tricks he had learned for saving
money one of them was throwing all of his small
change into a jar.
C) Anthony had a few tricks he had learned for saving
money; one of them was throwing all of his small
change into a jar.
D) none of the above
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Chapter 38 (2): Comma Splices and Fused Sentences
9. How would you correct this
sentence?
Anthony had a few tricks he had learned for saving money,
one of them was throwing all of his small change into a jar.
ANSWER:
A) Anthony had a few tricks he had learned for saving
money though one of them was throwing all of his
small change into a jar.
B) Anthony had a few tricks he had learned for saving
money one of them was throwing all of his small
change into a jar.
C) Anthony had a few tricks he had learned for saving
money; one of them was throwing all of his small
change into a jar.
D) none of the above
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Chapter 38 (2): Comma Splices and Fused Sentences