Comma Splices - De Anza College
Comma Splices
by Nhut, Kelly, Josh, Eddie, Brian, and Kimeya
Independent Clauses
Independent clause: A group of words that have a subject and a verb and expresses a complete thought. It can stand alone.
EX. Jim studied in the Sweet Shop for his
Chemistry test.
Comma Splices
● Comma splices, like run on sentences, can incorrectly combine independent clauses.
● A comma splice occurs when two independent clauses are connected with only a comma.
o Dev only comments on Miranda’s looks, he never tells her that he loves her.
● Like run on sentences, there are a few different ways to correct a comma splice.
How to Fix Comma Splices
In order to join two independent clauses, you have to use a coordinator . The coordinating conjunctions are for, and , but , or , nor , yet , and so .
To separate two independent clauses, you have to use some kind of end-stop punctuation . Here are all of your possible choices: the period [ .
], the exclamation point [ !
], and the semicolon [ ; ].
Examples
Incorrect:
Our professor reviewed for the tests in class, several of us went to the library afterwards to study.
Correct:
1. Our professor reviewed for the tests in class. Several of us went to the library afterwards to study.
2. Our professor reviewed for the tests in class, and several of us went to the library afterwards to study.
3. Our professor reviewed for the tests in class; several of us went to the library afterwards to study.
Examples
Incorrect:
Dev only comments on Miranda’s looks, he never tells her that he loves her.
Correct:
1.
Dev only comments on Miranda’s looks. He never tells her that he loves her.
2.
Dev only comments on Miranda’s looks, but he never tells her that he loves her.
Examples
Incorrect:
The coach was mad at his team, he told the players that they had to work harder in practice, he made them watch extra film to prepare for the next game.
Correct:
1. The coach was mad at his team. He told the players that they had to work harder in practice, and he made them watch extra film to prepare for the next game.
2. The coach seemed mad at his team, so he told his players, that they had to work harder in practice. He also made them watch extra film to prepare for the next game.
Examples
Incorrect
Twinkle loved the religious trinkets found around her house, Sanjeev thought that they were weird.
Correct
1. Twinkle loved the religious trinkets found around her house. Sanjeev thought that they were weird.
2. Twinkle loved the religious trinkets found around her house, but Sanjeev thought that they were weird.
3. Twinkle loved the religious trinkets found around her house; Sanjeev thought that they were weird.
Examples
Incorrect:
We camped for a week, we were pretty tired.
Correct:
1. We camped for a week. We were pretty tired.
2. We camped for a week; we were pretty tired.
3. We camped for a week, so we were pretty tired.
Works Cited
1.
https://owl.english.purdue.edu/engagement/2/1/34/
2.
https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/598/01/
3.
http://www.aims.edu/student/online-writinglab/grammar/comma-splices
4.
http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/runons.htm
5.
http://grammartips.homestead.com/splice.html
