Comma Splices: Clues and Cures

When a comma is used to separate two independent clauses that aren't joined by coordinating conjunctions, the result is an error called the comma splice. One of the most frequent misuses of the comma, the comma splice, can be avoided by knowing the proper way to separate independent clauses.

Two examples of a comma splice:

• She went to the store, she bought bagels.
• The trees are burning, it must be a forest fire.

There are four possible ways to correct a comma splice:

1. Use a comma with a coordinating conjunction to separate two independent clauses within the same sentence.
   • She went to the store, and she bought bagels. 
   • The trees are burning, so it must be a forest fire.
2. Use a semicolon to separate two independent clauses within the same sentence.
   • She went to the store; she bought bagels.
   • The trees are burning; it must be a forest fire.

   Note: The semicolon works best when the second clause is a conclusion or comment relating to the first clause. 

3. Use a period to separate two independent clauses into two separate sentences.
   • She went to the store. She bought bagels.
   • The trees are burning. It must be a forest fire.
4. When two clauses contain the same subject, which usually occurs when you list actions or events, remove the second subject and use a coordinating conjunction to combine the clauses. This makes the second clause dependent upon the first and creates a compound structure. 
   • "She went to the store" AND "She bought bagels" can be combined to form:
   • She went to the store and bought bagels.

Note: This does not work when a conclusion is drawn from the information in the first clause and presented in the second clause. 

1. The trees are burning, it must be a forest fire.
2. The trees are burning and a forest fire.

This "correction" does not make any sense to the reader, so it should not be used with sentences like this. Be careful to keep the meaning you want when you use this solution for comma splices.