Never Splice a Comma Again

To splice means to join together or unite. It’s socially acceptable to splice a rope. No one seems to mind if you splice pieces of film. Scientists received acclaim for learning how to splice DNA. However, there is one splice that drives people crazy. It’s the comma splice! Why is it so wrong? Let’s find out what a comma splice is, why it’s so hated, and how you can avoid doing it.

A comma splice happens when a comma incorrectly joins (or splices) two independent clauses. An independent clause is a clause that can stand alone as a complete sentence.

This is a sentence, sentences can stand alone.

The preceding example demonstrates a comma splice. Until the eighteenth century, comma splices were acceptable. In informal writing, they are still in vogue. But they are undesirable in formal writing because they are considered run-on sentences. An independent clause is, as its name suggests, independent. A comma is not strong enough to connect two independent clauses.

How can you avoid making comma splices? There are several ways. Let’s use our example sentence again.

This is a sentence. Sentences can stand alone.

You can simply separate the first and second independent clause. Add a period to the first sentence. Capitalize the first letter of the second sentence.

This is a sentence; sentences can stand alone.

Just because independent clauses are sentences doesn’t mean they always have to stand alone. If there is a close, logical connection between the two sentences, you might want to join them with a semicolon. In that case, the first letter of the second independent clause is lowercase.

This is a sentence, and sentences can stand alone.

Now, the coordinating conjunction “and” links the two sentences. A comma ends the first clause. The seven coordinating conjunctions (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so) do add meaning to the linked sentences. In the above example, the “and” carries a nuance of explanation or justification.

This is a sentence since sentences can stand alone.

You can combine the two thoughts if you change the independent clause to a subordinate clause with a subordinating conjunction.There are many subordinating conjunctions, but among the most popular are because, although, so that, and since. In the above example, the subordinating conjunction establishes one clause as less important than the other clause. The most important idea should be in the main clause. The secondary idea should be introduced by a subordinating conjunction. You can also start a sentence with a subordinate clause if you add a comma after it.

Since sentences can stand alone, this is a sentence.

Can you identify a comma splice now?

I know how to identify comma splices, so I will never make this style error again.
I know how to identify comma splices, I will never make this style error again.

Yes, the second sentence contains the comma splice. In the first sentence, “so” is a coordinating conjunction that eliminates the style error.

To avoid comma splices, separate independent clauses with a period or connect them with a coordinating conjunction or a semicolon. You can also reduce one of the independent clauses to a subordinate clause with a subordinating conjunction. If you don’t want to do any of these things, there is one last option you can pursue. Comma splices are style errors in formal English writing, but they are perfectly acceptable in some languages. The word around the Internet is that comma splices are compulsory in Bulgarian. Haven’t you always wanted to learn another language?

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