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Writing Tips: Comma Splices
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Comma
Splices
A comma
splice is a comma that improperly divides (or splices together)
two independent clauses (complete sentences). For example:
- The writing process is
very difficult, it combines elements of original thought and time-consuming
revision.
- The Dean of the College
was very busy, he could not stop and chat on the veranda.
Notice that in both cases, the
part (clause) that comes before the comma can stand alone as a sentence,
and the part that comes after the comma can also stand alone.
There are five ways to combine
and work with independent clauses; unfortunately, simply inserting a comma
between the two is not sufficient.
Standard
Punctuation Between Two Independent Clauses:
- Period
+ start a new sentence:
Mrs. Pudwhacker likes to
sit in the corner. Mr. Jones enjoys petting the chickens.
- Comma +
a coordinating conjunction (and, but, for, nor, yet, or, so):
Jane does not enjoy the smell
of the circus, yet we go every year.
- Simply
a semicolon (here you could use a period, but the semicolon adds the
proper punctuation and break without completely separating the clauses
or the ideas they contain):
In spite of severe tornado
warnings, Ishmael continues to milk the cows; he is afraid he will run
out of cheese.
- Semicolon
+ a conjunctive adverb (however, moreover, nevertheless, therefore,
as a result, consequently...) + a comma:
Jane was going to go to the
movies; however, she decided to go to the gym instead.
- Rearrange
the clauses, making one dependent upon the other:
Since I was crying, the
old woman took my car.
OR
I spilled 28.5 ounces of Dr. Pepper© because I had neglected
to put a lid on my cup.
Samples:
Here are some sample
sentences with comma splices and one or more possible ways to fix them.
1. I think
this rule is stupid, my work never has comma splices.
- I think this rule is
stupid. My work never has comma splices.
- I think this rule is
stupid, for my work never has comma splices.
- I think this rule is
stupid since my work never has comma splices.
2. Aunt
Jennie hates pruning hedges, she has 93 hedges.
- Aunt Jennie hates pruning
hedges. She has 93 hedges.
- Although she has 93 hedges,
Aunt Jennie hates pruning them.
- Aunt Jennie hates pruning
hedges; she has 93 hedges.
3. I do
not believe in the existence of killer rabbits, my friend John says
that he has seen three killer rabbits in the last two weeks.
- I do not believe in the
existence of killer rabbits, but my friend John says that he has seen
three killer rabbits in the last two weeks.
- I do not believe in the
existence of killer rabbits; my friend John says that he has seen
three killer rabbits in the last two weeks.
- I do not believe in the
existence of killer rabbits. My friend John says that he has
seen three killer rabbits in the last two weeks.
4. My
dog chases the ice cream truck, as a result he has been hit three times.
- My dog chases the ice
cream truck; as a result, he has been hit three times.
5. I do
not need this class, I will not need to write as the CEO of a major
corporation.
- I do not need this class
since I will not need to write as the CEO of a major corporation.
- I do not need this class;
I will not need to write as the CEO of a major corporation.
- I do not need this class.
I will not need to write as the CEO of a major corporation.
- Because I will not need
to write as the CEO of a major corporation, I do not need this class.
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