
The third way to correct these types of errors is to place a comma after the first independent clause and add a coordinating conjunction. My uncle works at the bakery on Lincoln Street he enjoys making sweet treats like cakes, donuts, cookies, and pies. With semicolons, we do not capitalize the first word of the second independent clause unless it's a proper noun, such as I, Erik, Minnesota, etc.

In this case, we simply add a period after the first independent clause and capitalize the first word of the second independent clause.Īnother way to correct the sentence boundary error is to insert a semicolon between the two closely related independent clauses. He enjoys making sweet treats like cakes, donuts, cookies, and pies. My uncle works at the bakery on Lincoln Street. There are five different ways to correct comma splices and fused sentences.įirst, we could separate the independent clauses into two distinct sentences. When two independent clauses are jammed together (fused) in this way without any punctuation to separate them, a fused sentence occurs.Ĭorrecting Comma Splices and Fused Sentences What is a Fused Sentence?Ī fused sentence occurs when two independent clauses are joined without any punctuation. The comma that separates these two independent clauses creates a comma splice. And (2) He enjoys making sweet treats like cakes, donuts, cookies, and pies. This sentence contains two independent clauses: (1) My uncle works at the bakery on Lincoln Street. My uncle works at the bakery on Lincoln Street, he enjoys making sweet treats like cakes, donuts, cookies, and pies. What is a Comma Splice?Ī comma splice occurs when two independent clauses are joined with a comma. A complete sentence has a subject and a verb, and it expresses a complete thought. Revision: Prospectors invaded the newly discovered territory, some in wagons, some on horseback, and a few in heavily laden canoes.An independent clause (sometimes called a main clause) is simply a complete sentence. Some in wagons, some on horseback, and a few in heavily laden canoes.įragment: Prospectors invaded the newly discovered territory some in wagons, some on horseback, and a few in heavily laden canoes. Revision: It was an excellent movie, one that was nominated for an Oscar.įragment: Prospectors invaded the newly discovered territory.
#Comma splice and fused sentences movie#
Revision: Traffic was stalled for ten miles on the freeway because repairs were being made on potholes.įragment: It was an excellent movie one that was nominated for an Oscar.įragment: It was an excellent movie. Because repairs were being made on potholes. Specifically, a fragment is a group of words pretending to be a sentence.įragment: Traffic was stalled for ten miles on the freeway. Separate the sentences with a subordinating conjunction such as although, because, since, or if.Įxample: Tevon won the award because he had the highest score.Ī fragment is an incomplete construction which may or may not have a subject and a verb. NOTE: If a conjunctive adverb like therefore, however, then, or consequently separates the two sentences, use a semicolon also.Įxample: I was unwilling to testify however, I did it anyway.Ĥ. Separate the sentences with a semicolon.Įxample: Tevon won the award he had the highest score. Separate the sentences with a comma and a coordinating conjunction ( for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so).Įxample: Tevon won the award, for he had the highest score.ģ. Run-on: Tevon won the award he had the highest score.Ĭomma splice: Tevon won the award, he had the highest score.Įxample: Tevon won the award. Revision: Wearing a seatbelt is not just a good idea it's the law.īoth run-on sentences and comma splices may be corrected in any of the following ways: (One should use either a period, a semicolon, or a coordinating conjunction and a comma to separate the two statements.)Ĭomma splice: Wearing a seatbelt is not just a good idea, it's the law. Resources for Sentence Errors: Comma Splices, Run-ons, and FragmentsĪ comma splice is the unjustifiable use of only a comma to combine two separate sentences.


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