EditFast Grammar Resource: Comma Splices: Correcting Comma Splices

Job SearchGovernment, corporate, military, domestic, and overseas jobs in all fields.

Resources for Writers, Authors, Editors, Copy Editors, and Proofreaders

Huge Database
Writers' and Editors' Resources
Magazines, Publishers, Literary Agents, Writing Competitions.

Copy one of the following and paste it anywhere on any page of your site.

Comma Splices, Fused Sentences, Transitions

Ways to Correct Comma Splices and Fused Sentences:

1) Insert a period between the independent clauses:

• Comma splice: Federal funding has become scarce, the money is going elsewhere.
• Fused sentence: Federal funding has become scarce the money is going elsewhere.
• Correct: Federal funding has become scarce. The money is going elsewhere.

2) Insert a semicolon between the independent clauses.

Only use a semi- colon, rather than a period, when the two sentences are closely related in subject:

• Comma splice: Soccer is the most popular children's sport, it replaced baseball four years ago.
• Fused sentence: Soccer is the most popular children's sport it replaced baseball four years ago.
• Correct: Soccer is the most popular children's sport; it replaced baseball four years ago.

3) Use a comma together with a coordinating conjunction:

• Comma splice: Sue and John got married four years ago, they are expecting their first child.
• Fused sentence: Sue and John got married four years ago they are expecting their first child.
• Correct: Sue and John got married four years ago, and they are expecting their first child.

4) Revise one independent clause into a dependent clause:

There are two ways to create dependent clauses. One is using a subordinating conjunction (because, although, if, when), and the other is by using a relative pronoun (who, whose, whom, which, that).

a) To use a subordinating conjunction, place the conjunction before the clause to be made dependent, and separate the two clauses with a comma:

• Comma splice: John hadn't ever seen the college before, he knew he wanted to go there anyway.
• Fused sentence: John hadn't ever seen the college before he knew he wanted to go there anyway.
• Correct: Although John hadn't ever seen the college before, he knew he wanted to go there anyway.

b) To use a relative pronoun, place the pronoun before the clause to be made dependent:

• Comma splice: I'll always remember the professor, he taught me calculus.
• Fused sentence: I'll always remember the professor he taught me calculus.
• Correct: I'll always remember the professor who taught me calculus.