This chart from grammar girl presents the ultimate writing guide for students. Oxford, appositive, and nonrestrictive the comma splice. Grammar girl xvii introduction xix 1grammar 1 finding subjects and verbs 1 finding verbs. How to thrive in the age of customer experience today more than twothirds of companies say they compete on customer experience cx, up from just 36% in 2010 1. Klincks unravelling the comma splice, english journal 87. My estate goes to my husband, son, daughterinlaw, and nephew. To splice means to join, so a comma splice could easily have been called a comma join, but that would have been too simple. As you can see in these two sentences, comma splices and runon sentences are similar mistakes. The example just above about the sunscreen is a commasplice. If you take two independent clauses and join them with a comma, you have a comma splice. Comma splices answer key and teaching tips comma splice answer keyteaching tips. Because comma splices and fused sentences contain two main. The blue book of grammar and punctuation an easytouse guide with clear rules, realworld examples. Use a period and a capital letter to make two sentences.
I am not angry with you, but i am not happy with you, either. When you diagram sentences with semicolons, join the clauses together with a dotted line and. The two parts here are both complete sentences and should not be joined by a comma. Grammar runons and comma splices notes and worksheet by. First, practice identifying runons and comma splices.
To fix a comma splice or fused sentence, use one of the four strategies below. In most instances, this is considered incorrect usage, but here are five widely accepted comma splices complete with examples of each type from anne l. Its tempting to string a bunch of sentences together with commas. Comma splices are one of the most common comma errors, but they can be. Elderberry is a kind and generous woman or a generous and kind woman. Often, the appositive provides additional information about the noun or helps to distinguish it in some way. For example, the sentence today the weather is fine, i am going to go for a walk is fused, because there are two complete thoughts in it, and just a comma. She is an inductee in the podcasting hall of fame, and the show is a fivetime winner of best education podcast in the podcast awards. Use a comma and a coordinating conjunction to join two sentences into one. I can be a little annoyingly pedantic when it comes to grammar and usage. Lets use the above example to show how to fix comma splices.
Runon sentences and comma splices guide to grammar. The subject is a noun or pronoun that names the topic of the sentence. The comma splice occurs when a comma is used to connect two independent clauses. These two terms are more specific and more descriptive. Comma splices infographic grammar newsletter english. Runon sentences, comma splices, fragments when 2 or more simple sentences are joined together in the wrong way, the result is either a runon sentence subject verb subject verb or a comma splice subject verb, subject verb. Some people get confused and think that the word splice means to separate. Comma s needed 3, 17 comma splice 4, 23 faulty subjectverb agreement 5, 9 faulty parallelism 6, 18 dangling modifier 7, 19.
For example, the sentence today the weather is fine, i am going to go for a walk is fused, because there are two complete thoughts in it, and just a comma to separate them. May 10, 20 click on captions for english subtitles. Im not concerned about dangling prepositions or split infinitives, but my god, it gets to me when people misuse affect and effect, comma splice, or think that e. Madison believed that the best job in the universe would be to work as a crew member on the star ship enterprise since this job existed only on television, madison. When two independent clauses are connected by only a comma, they constitute a runon sentence that is called a comma splice. Commas are also unnecessary when joining two independent classes or splitting an independent clause from a dependent clause that follows.
Separate with a comma and a coordinating conjunction coordinating conjunctions are the words and, nor, but, or, yet, and so. When the last comma in a series comes before and or or after daughterinlaw in the above example, it is known as the oxford comma. Includes notes that explain how to fix runons and comma splices. A comma splice or runon sentence can also occur when you use transition words. Presentation, report by a taste for writing, composition for culinarians. Comma splices answer key and teaching tips comma splice answer keyteaching. Start here for quick tips to get punctuation on track for you or your students.
In the example above, bob was late for work and he hoped he wouldnt be fired can each stand on its. A fused sentence, on the other hand, occurs when two independent clauses complete ideas are joined without any punctuation. Mignon fogarty is the founder of quick and dirty tips and the author of seven books on language, including the new york times bestseller. My favorite movie is the little mermaid, i also like. Commas punctuation rules the blue book of grammar and. Comma splices can be corrected in one of these five ways. This handout will help you know when and how to use commas. No matter what ones opinion is of bars, we hope that everyone can appreciate the lessons in english grammar contained in the clever sentences that follow. Jan 01, 2008 my life would be less frustrating if everyone read this book.
Grammar girls quick and dirty tips for better writing by. All books are in clear copy here, and all files are secure so dont worry about it. It is better to avoid the term runon sentence altogether and use only the terms comma splice and fused sentence. The sentences above are examples of comma splices and runon sentences. Im not concerned about dangling prepositions or split. Compound sentences are made up of two or more independent clauses. A comma splice occurs when you attempt to join two sentences with a comma, like this. Klinck, unravelling the comma splice like fragments, comma splices are only a nono when done poorly. Comma splice runon sentence to introduce quoted material. The comma splice is one of the most frequent mistakes made when using a comma. May 20, 2008 you could also leave the comma if you connect the two independent clauses with a coordinating conjunction, as in im a legitimate punctuation mark, so get me out of here. In sentences with more than one independent clause, they work with a comma to separate the clauses. Jun 24, 2010 commas arent meant to join main clauses all by themselves.
A comma splice occurs when a writer uses a comma by itself to connect two independent clauses, and speaking from an editorial perspective, i will tell you that they are evil. Therefore, they should be corrected in any type of writing, be it formal, informal, essays, etc. I wouldnt ask the students to rewrite the sentence using each technique. A comma splice is when a comma is used unnecessarily. A comma splice is an error caused by joining two strong clauses with only a. Mar 15, 20 a comma splice is two independent clauses complete sentences joined by a comma. Often, the comma conveys a finesse which the semicolon would destroy. Grammar and mechanics runons and comma splices in order to be complete, a sentence must have a subject and predicate that form an independent clause. A comma splice is a type of runon sentence that occurs when two independent clauses are incorrectly joined together.
A comma splice is a comma that joins splices two independent clauses. Mignon fogarty is the founder of quick and dirty tips and the author of seven books on language, including the new york times bestseller grammar girls quick and dirty tips for better. A comma splice consists of two or more independent clauses that follow one another and are incorrectly linked together only with a comma or commas. A comma splice or comma fault is the use of a comma to join tw a word that connects or joins together words, phrases, clauses a clause that can form a complete sentence standing alone, hav. If adding a conjunction doesnt seem to work, you can change the. See more ideas about grammar, grammar and punctuation and grammar tips. Comma splices a comma splice occurs when two independent clauses thoughts capable of standing by themselves are connected only by a comma, as in the following example.
Comma splices, fused sentences, and runon sentences. Try not to conflate to blend, mix, combine the two terms. The example just above about the sunscreen is a comma splice. The little girl spoke so quiet that i could hardly hear her.
How to correct the sentence containing a comma splice. To fix the comma splice without removing the comma we should add a coordinating conjunction between the independent. The good news is that its easy to fix a comma splice once youre aware of the problem. When two independent clauses are connected by only a comma, they constitute a runon sentence that is called a commasplice. Picard was the best captain and sisko is my favorite are both independent clauses. Here are two ways that you can properly punctuate compound sentences. Mary will pick up her sister at the beach, and then shell call us. Where a sentence has two parts that could stand alone as sentences, with only a comma to separate them, it is a comma splice. So in order to prevent your writing from getting on an editors or an astute readers nerves. Use commas to separate words and word groups in a simple series of three or more items. Mignon fogarty is the founder of quick and dirty tips and the author of seven books on language, including the new york times bestseller grammar girl s quick and dirty tips for better writing. I couldnt put the book down, i read it in one sitting.
Mary promised that she would be a good girl, that she would not bite her brother, and. A comma may be used to separate a second clause which reverses a negative first clause. In the following exercise you will be presented with a series of sentences containing a comma. Fix a comma splice by inserting a period, a semicolon or a coordinating. With most comma splices, the conjunction youll want to add is probably and, but, or so. If you would like a sample of whats in the ebook complete answers and tips please. Rules for finding and fixing comma splices and fused. I decided to write about comma splices because my friend scott sigler has a book coming out this week, ancestor, published by crown. Jun 09, 2017 mignon fogarty is the founder of quick and dirty tips and the author of seven books on language, including the new york times bestseller grammar girls quick and dirty tips for better writing. Each sentence below has a comma splice, so it is wrong. Runon sentences, comma splices, fragments when 2 or more simple sentences are joined together in the wrong way, the result is either a runon sentence subject verb subject verb. An appositive is a word or phrase that refers to the same thing as another noun in the same sentence.
The worksheet asks students to label each sentence a runon or a comma splice, and to correct each sentence by adding a period, a semi. They give us a way to combine ideas and make our sentences more interesting. She wrote, comma splices are the rage on the internet these days. Joe can attest to the fact that theyre one of my biggest pet peeves. My life would be less frustrating if everyone read this book. Comma splices and fused sentences are independent clauses that have not been joined correctly.
Some people use the term runon sentence to refer both to fused sentences and comma splices. When you use a comma to connect two independent clauses, it must be accompanied by a little conjunction and, but, for, nor, yet, or, so. Well, i have written about them, but it was four years ago, so its definitely tim. Rules for finding and fixing comma splices and fused sentences. In the following exercise, indicate whether an item is a comma splice cs or is correct c. A comma splice occurs when two independent clauses are connected by a comma. That night the princess did not sleep, she danced the night away. Commas should not be used to split a subject and verb, a compound subject, or a compound verb. When the independent clauses mirror the same structure. You have to indicate whether you think that the sentence is an example of the comma splice. In this example the two clauses make sense on their own. Adapted from the borzoi handbook for writers, 1993. Because comma splices and fused sentences contain two main clauses, you can always add a period a full stop at the end of the first clause and then begin the second one with a capital letter. A comma splice is two independent clauses complete sentences joined by a comma.
One way to fix a comma splice is to add a conjunction immediately after the comma. Madison believed that the best job in the universe would be to work as a crew member on the star ship enterprise since this job existed only on television, madison settled for clerking at a neighborhood comic book store that sold star trek memorabilia. In the example above, bob was late for work and he hoped he wouldnt be fired can each stand on its own as a. Postal service is usually very reliable, however, sometimes a. A comma splice is the when two independent clauses are joined together with only a comma. It is better to avoid the term runon sentence altogether and use only the. Once you learn about comma splices, you notice them everywhere, and a listener named jo has started noticing them. Jun 05, 2009 a comma splice is a type of runon sentence that occurs when two independent clauses are incorrectly joined together. Comma splices are also occasionally used in fiction, poetry, and other forms of literature to convey a particular mood or informal style. In both cases, the punctuation or lack of it does not indicate complete, independent sentences.
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