Comma Splice

When you have two independent clauses joined by a comma, it’s known as a “comma splice.” Another term for comma splice is a run-on sentence. It’s incorrect grammar.

For example: It’s nearly 8 a.m., I’ll never make it to work on time. While that might sound fine if you say it aloud, you end up with two simple, albeit complete sentences. That requires a period between the two. To wit: It’s nearly 8 a.m. I’ll never make it to work on time.

You need not always substitute a period for a comma, although that’s the most common fix. You can also rewrite the sentence(s), add a conjunction (‘and’ or ‘but’), or use a semicolon, to name three kinds of fixes.

Examples

Before Halloween, my wife scoops out the goop from the inside of a pumpkin, we then get together to carve out a face and eat the freshly baked seeds.

Correction 1: Before Halloween, my wife scoops out the goop from the inside of a pumpkin. Then, we get together to carve out a face and eat the freshly baked seeds.

We corrected the comma splice by making two separate sentences.

Correction 2: Before Halloween, my wife scoops out the goop from the inside of a pumpkin and we get together to carve out a face and eat the freshly baked seeds.

We corrected the comma splice by adding “and,” which is known as a coordinating conjunction.

Correction 3: Before Halloween, my wife scoops out the goop from the inside of a pumpkin, and we get together to carve out a face and eat the freshly baked seeds.

We corrected the comma splice by adding a comma followed by “and,” which is known as a coordinating conjunction.

Correction 4: For Halloween, we get together to carve a jack-o’-lantern and eat the freshly baked seeds after my wife scoops out the goop from inside the pumpkin.

We corrected the comma splice by rewriting the two sentences.

Correction 5: Before Halloween, my wife scoops out the goop from the inside of a pumpkin; we love to eat the seeds, which my mom bakes on a cookie sheet in the oven.

We replaced the comma with a semicolon and rewrote the second part.

More examples:

Incorrect: Stella and Jerry got engaged in the spring, they want a summer wedding.

Correct: Stella and Jerry got engaged in the spring. They want a summer wedding.

Incorrect: Nesil is always late for class, the professor doesn’t seems to mind.

Correct: Nesil is always late for class, although the professor doesn’t seems to mind. Or: The professor doesn’t seems to mind that Nesil is always late to class.

Incorrect: Lila fractured her wrist over the weekend, she’s in a lot of pain.

Correct: Lila fractured her wrist over the weekend. Now she’s in a lot of pain.

Incorrect: Driving a car is faster and more comfortable, riding a bicycle is healthier and better for the environment.

Correct: Driving a car is faster and more comfortable but riding a bicycle is healthier and better for the environment.

Incorrect: The air conditioner is too loud, Yvonne can't sleep.

Correct: Yvonne can’t sleep because the air conditioner is too loud. Or: The air conditioner is so loud Yvonne can’t sleep.

Incorrect: I’m busy, I don’t have time for small talk.

Correct: I’m busy and don’t have time for small talk.