EditFast Grammar Resource: Comma Splices: Correcting Comma Splices

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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.