P2: Grammar

Varying sentences.mp4

Proofreading.pdf

Common Error: The Comma Splice

What is it? A comma splice happens when you try to glue two complete sentences together with a comma. A comma isn't strong enough to hold two full ideas together.

Why does it matter? If your work is full of comma splices, it will impact upon your marks for technical accuracy (AO6).

How to fix it: You have three options:

The Wall: Use a full stop to separate them ( . )
The Bridge: Use a connective word ( and / but / so )
The Glue: Use a semi-colon if the ideas are closely linked ( ; )

Read the mistake and decide on the best way to fix it. Once you have an answer in your head, click the arrow to see if you were right.

❌ The house was silent, I could hear my own heartbeat.

❌ The Problem: These are two complete main clauses.

✅ The Fix (Full Stop): The house was silent. I could hear my own heartbeat.

Why: Breaking this into two short sentences creates tension.

❌ I ran as fast as I could, my lungs were burning.

❌ The Problem: The comma makes the action feel breathless and messy.

✅ The Fix (Conjunction): I ran as fast as I could, but my lungs were burning.

Why: Adding a connective word explains the relationship between the running and the pain.

❌ The window smashed, I screamed.

❌ The Problem: Two dramatic actions deserve their own space.

✅ The Fix (Semi-Colon): The window smashed; I screamed.

Why: Adding a connective word explains the relationship between the running and the pain.

❌ The sun was setting, the sky turned purple.

❌ The Problem: This is a "run-on" sentence. It drifts on without a clear break.

✅ The Fix (Ing-verb starter): As the sun set, the sky turned purple.

Why: Sometimes the best fix is to slightly change the start of the sentence so it flows better.

❌ "Don't go in there," he whispered, "it's dangerous."

❌ The Problem: This is a tricky one! "It's dangerous" is a full sentence, so you can't just carry on with a comma after "whispered".

✅ The Fix (Full Stop): "Don't go in there," he whispered. "It's dangerous."

Why: This separates the instruction ("Don't go") from the reason ("It's dangerous").

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