Comma Splices: How to Fix It?
by Kathleen M.
When I was a college student, I had a professor offer me an F on an essay with the caveat that if I turned it in having corrected the comma splices, I would earn an A. So that was the day I learned what a comma splice was! And I am here to save you from a similar fate.
A comma splice happens when you use a comma to separate two independent clauses without a coordinating conjunction. Simple enough – if you know what all the parts of that last sentence mean.
An independent clause is another term for a sentence: a complete thought with both a subject and verb.
A coordinating conjunction is a word that connects – the most common are the FANBOYS (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so).
Comma splices only happen in compound sentences, so you can stick to simple sentences to avoid them. Or you can learn how to mix and match the kinds of connections you can make to construct compound sentences.
For example:
I knew high school would be exciting, I explored journalism, soccer, choir, and student government to find a place to belong. (error)
I knew high school would be exciting, so I explored journalism, soccer, choir, and student government to find a place to belong. (correct)
I knew high school would be exciting. I explored journalism, soccer, choir, and student government to find a place to belong. (correct)
I knew high school would be exciting; I explored journalism, soccer, choir, and student government to find a place to belong.(correct)
You will sometimes have an error that will also mean that the sentence can be confusing to the reader; this is the main reason to read for and correct comma splices. If this is a common error for you, learn to proofread for comma splices.
Proofreading Strategy:
* Find (you can use the find function in Word for longer docs) the coordinating conjunctions in your essay.
*Decide if the coordinating conjunction is separating two independent clauses.
*Add a coordinating conjunction if needed, or see about splitting up the sentence with a period or semicolon as in the above examples
Resources:
Grammar Girl https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl/
“Exercise: Run-ons, Comma Splices, and Fused Sentences” https://owl.purdue.edu/owl_exercises/sentence_structure/sentence_structure/run_ons_comma_splices_and_fused_sentences.html
