Comma splice
A
comma splice occurs when a comma is incorrectly used to join two independent
clauses. The words on either side of the comma
could be two separate sentences.
How to fix comma splice:
1. use a full stop and create two
sentences.
Comma splice:
I went swimming,
I am feeling tired.
Corrected using a full stop:
I went swimming. I am feeling tired.
2. use a semi-colon to
separate them.
Comma splice:
Corrected using a semi-colon:
I went swimming; I am feeling tired.
A semi-colon is used to resolve a comma
splice when
i. the two independent clauses are
related and
ii. there is a clear logical connection
between the two independent clauses.
3.
Use a coordinating conjunction. (FANBOYS – for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so)
A conjunction is used to combine the two independent
clauses into a single sentence. Further, a conjunction indicates the logical
relationship between the two clauses.
Comma splice:
I went swimming, I am feeling tired.
Corrected using a coordinating
conjunction:
I went swimming, and I am feeling tired.
4:
Use a subordinating conjunction.
Similar to coordinating conjunctions subordinating
conjunctions show the logical relationship between two independent clauses and
solve the comma splice. However, subordinating conjunctions underline the unequal
stress on the two parts of the sentence.
Comma splice:
I went swimming, I am feeling
tired.
Corrected
using a subordinating conjunction:
Since I went swimming, I am feeling
tired.
(a few of the subordinating conjunction - although,
after, before, unless, as, because, even though, if, since, until, when, while)
This is not how comma-splice is fixed
Two sentences must never be joined using
a comma followed by a conjunctive adverb. Most commonly the conjunctive adverb however is used to join two sentences.
Example:
Comma splice: I went swimming, I am
feeling tired.
Incorrect use of conjunctive adverb: I
went swimming, however I am feeling tired.
Conjunctive
adverbs are used to begin independent clauses, not to join them. Hence the above correction of comma splice
will not work as the sentence still is a comma splice.
Accordingly, additionally, besides, certainly, comparatively, consequently, elsewhere, equally,
finally, further, hence, however, in addition, in
comparison, in contrast, incidentally, likewise are a few
conjunctive adverbs.
Note: A conjunctive adverb can be used
to fix a comma splice BUT use a full stop or semi-colon before the second
independent clause.
I went swimming. Now, I am feeling tired.
I went swimming; now, I am feeling tired.
A
run-on sentence
A run-on sentence occurs when two independent sentences are squashed
together without a conjunction or a proper punctuation mark.
Comma indicates a short pause whereas
independent clauses are complete thoughts or complete sentences. They need a
full stop to indicate a longer and stronger pause and don’t need a comma to
separate them. If a comma is used, then it becomes a run-on sentence.
Example of run-on sentence -
I was happy, I sang for an hour.
In the above sentence, it is to be noted that the
comma is used wrongly to separate two independent clauses.
Note: It is important to understand that length
doesn’t determine a run-on sentence.
Molly
Bloom's soliloquy in the James Joyce novel Ulysses (1922) contains a sentence of 3,687 words.
How to fix run-on sentence:
Use one of the following 4 ways to correct a run-on
sentence.
1. Separate
the two clauses with a full-stop.
I was happy. I sang for an hour.
2. Separate
the two clauses using a semi-colon.
I was happy; I sang for an hour.
3. Separate the
two clauses using a comma with a coordinating conjunction. (FANBOYS –
for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so)
I was happy, so I sang for an hour.
4. Separate
the two clauses using a Subordinating conjunction and a comma.
(a few of the subordinating conjunction - although,
after, before, unless, as, because, even though, if, since, until, when, while)
Since I was happy, I sang for an hour.
As is evident from this post FANBOYS - coordinating conjunctions - are one of the heroes of English Grammar.
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| FANBOYS - coordinating conjunctions |
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