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Comma splices and fused sentences take their names from metaphors of splicing
(fastening two ends together) and fusing (united as if melted). A comma splice occurs when
a comma incorrectly joins two independent clauses. A fused sentence occurs when two
independent clauses are joined with no punctuation or connecting word between them. Comma
splices and fused sentences are two versions of the same problem: faulty connection
between two independent clauses.
Examples of This Trouble
Spliced: I like figure skating, my brother likes
hockey.
Fused: I like figure skating my brother likes hockey.
(Because both "I like figure skating" and "my brother
likes hockey" are independent clauses, they need to be joined with proper punctuation
or proper connecting words.)
Spliced: Cinema for Alfred Hitchcock is not a
slice of life, it is rather a piece of cake.
Fused: Cinema for Alfred Hitchcock is not a slice of life it is rather a piece of
cake.
(Because both "Cinema for Alfred Hitchcock is not a slice of
life" and "it is rather a piece of cake" are independent clauses, they need
to be joined with proper punctuation or proper connecting words.)
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How to Correct This
Trouble
- Use a semicolon or a period to separate the independent clauses.
I like figure skating; my brother likes hockey.
I like figure skating. My brother likes hockey.
- Place an appropriate connecting word between the two clauses. You can add one of these
coordinating conjunctions: "and," "but," "or,"
"nor," "for," "so," or "yet." Remember
to include the comma before the coordinating conjunction.
I like figure skating, but my brother likes hockey.
- Turn one independent clause into a dependent clause. You can change one of
the clauses to a dependent clause by putting a subordinating conjunction
before it. But remember to find a subordinating conjunction that most
accurately expresses your meaning.
Although I like figure skating, my brother like hockey.
I like figure skating, whereas my brother likes hockey.
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How to Avoid This
Trouble
- Never connect two independent clauses with a comma.
- Make sure that two independent clauses are properly connected.
- Don’t confuse a conjunctive adverb for a proper linking word. Conjunctive adverbs ("accordingly,"
"
hence," " however," " therefore," etc.) are modifiers that describe a relation between two
independent clauses, but they are not conjunctions. There is no problem when they begin a
sentence, but don’t use them to join sentences. If you punctuate them like
subordinating conjunctions, with a comma before, you will make comma splices. If you put
no punctuation before the them, you will make fused sentences.
Wrong: I like figure skating, however my brother likes hockey.
Wrong: I like figure skating however my brother likes hockey.
Corrected: I like figure skating; however, my brother likes
hockey.
Corrected: I like figure skating. However, my brother likes
hockey.
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