Transcript Comma Splices & Fused Sentences

COMMA SPLICES
& FUSED SENTENCES
DEFINITIONS OF:
COMMA SPLICES & FUSED SENTENCES
A comma splice joins two sentences with a comma
and no conjunction. Example:
 Sarah runs every morning, she runs three miles.

Complete Sentence
Comma Splice
Complete Sentence
A fused sentence joins two sentences without any
punctuation.
 Example:
Exercise is important it can keep your weight down.

Complete Sentence
Fused
Complete Sentence
5 WAYS TO CORRECT CS AND FS ERRORS
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
Use a period and a capital letter.
Use a semicolon.
Use a comma and a coordinating conjunction.
Use a semicolon and a conjunctive adverb.
Make the two sentences into one sentence with
a subordinating conjunction (dependent word).
Independent clause
(Sentence)
Independent clause
(Sentence)
What goes here?
USE A PERIOD AND A CAPITAL LETTER

This is the easiest fix for comma splices and fused
sentences.
Example Comma Splice
Writing is hard work, it takes time.

Example Fused Sentence
Writing is hard work it takes time.


Correction
Writing is hard work. It takes time.
Complete Sentence Period Complete Sentence
Periods =
USE A SEMICOLON

A semicolon is like a period, not like a comma.
Complete Sentence ; Complete Sentence.
 Do not use semicolons often.
 Example Comma Splice and Fused Sentence
•
I stopped by the grocery store, it was closed.
•
I stopped by the grocery store it was closed.
 Correction
I stopped by the grocery store; it was closed.
Complete Sentence
; Complete Sentence.
USE A COMMA AND COORDINATING CONJUNCTION
If you use a comma to connect two sentences, you
must also use a coordinating conjunction.
Complete Sentence, CC Complete Sentence.
 There are only seven coordinating conjunctions.
For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So  FANBOYS
 Example Comma Splice and Fused Sentence
• I want an A, I don’t want to study tonight.
• I want an A I don’t want to study tonight.
 Correction
I want an A, but I don’t want to study tonight.

Sentence , CC Sentence.
USING COORDINATE CONJUNCTIONS
To indicate addition, use and.
Ex: Edgar Allan Poe wrote horror fiction in the nineteenth
century, and Stephen King writes horror fiction today.
 To indicate contrast or contradiction, use but or yet.
Ex: Poe wrote short stories, but King writes both stories
and novels.
Poe died young, yet his stories live on.
 To indicate a cause-effect connection, use so or for.
Ex: I liked Carrie, so I decided to read King’s other novels.
Poe’s “The Tell-Tale Heart” is a chilling tale, for it is
about a murder.
 To present alternatives, use or.
Ex: I have to finish Cujo, or I won’t be able to sleep.
 To eliminate alternatives, use nor.
Ex: I have not read The Green Mile, nor have I seen the
movie.

USE A SEMICOLON AND CONJUNCTIVE ADVERB
Conjunctive adverbs connect complete sentences.
You can only use them after a semicolon or at the
beginning of a sentence.
Sentence ; Conjunctive Adverb, Sentence.
 Add a comma after a conjunctive adverb.
 Conjunctive adverbs ≠ coordinating conjunctions
They can’t join sentences with just a comma.
• Wrong: I finished my homework, then I partied.
 Correction
I finished my homework; then, I partied.

Sentence ; CA, Sentence.
COMMON CONJUNCTIVE ADVERBS
Only use these words at the beginning of a sentence or after a
semicolon. Put a comma after them, never before them.
Complete Sentence; Conjunctive Adverb, Complete Sentence.
I studied for the test; therefore, I received an A.


Conjunctive adverbs help you transition between ideas. They indicate
time, addition, cause, effect, examples, and emphasis.

Conjunctive adverbs
accordingly
also
meanwhile
for instance
likewise
consequently
instead
for example
besides
nonetheless
in fact
in addition
otherwise
however
moreover
therefore
conversely
furthermore
accordingly
nevertheless
indeed
besides
as a result
then
finally
hence
plus
next
nonetheless
similarly
still
subsequently
USING CONJUNCTIVE ADVERBS





To signal addition, use also, besides, furthermore, and
moreover.
Ex: Golf can be an expensive sport; besides, it can be hard to find a
public golf course.
To show cause-effect connection, use therefore, consequently,
and thus.
Ex. Professional baseball players are bigger and stronger than ever
before; therefore, home runs have become more common.
To indicate contrast or contradiction, use nevertheless,
however, still.
Ex. Some of the world’s best athletes are track stars; nevertheless,
few of their names are widely known.
To indicate present alternatives, use otherwise or instead.
Ex. Shawn got a football scholarship; otherwise, he could not have
gone to college.
He didn’t make the first team; instead, he backed up other players.
To indicate time relationships, use finally, meanwhile,
subsequently, and then.
Ex. The popularity of women’s tennis has been growing; meanwhile,
the popularity of men’s tennis has been declining.
USE A SUBORDINATING CONJUNCTION

You can add a subordinating conjunction to correct a
comma splice or fused sentence. This makes one of the
sentences a dependent clause.
Fused Sentence: You asked nicely I will help you.
Correction:
Because you asked nicely, I will help you.

SC
Sentence
Dependent Clause
,
,
Sentence.
Independent Clause.
DEPENDENT CLAUSES AND COMMAS
Dependent Clause + Sentence  Add a comma
Because you asked nicely, I will help you.
SC
 Sentence + Dependent Clause  No comma
I will help you because you asked nicely.
SC
 Exception
Sentence + Dependent Clause Showing Contrast
Many people think a tomato is a vegetable,
although it is really a fruit.
SC

COMMON SUBORDINATING CONJUNCTIONS
after
as if
until
before
since
though
unless
although
as though
because
even though
rather than
when, whenever
where, wherever
as
as long as
if
provided that
so that
whether
while
THAT’S ALL FOLKS!