Correcting comma splices

 

Take another look at the incorrect comma splice sentences in our last blog post. Note how the period has been replaced with a comma and the second sentence does not start with a capital letter. That is a comma splice because the clear boundary between two complete thoughts has been blurred. That creates a sentence boundary error.

To fix this, there are usually three options:

 

1. Replace the comma with a period.

• The airline went bankrupt. It no longer flies.
• I bought a red dress. My sister bought a black dress.
• He went to the store. He bought milk.

2. Replace the comma with a semi-colon.

• The airline went bankrupt; it no longer flies.
• I bought a red dress; my sister bought a black dress.
• He went to the store; he bought milk.

3. Add a coordinate conjunction in after the comma.

• The airline went bankrupt, so it no longer flies.
• I bought a red dress, but my sister bought a black dress.
• He went to the store, and he bought milk.

Tip:  that coordinate conjunctions are for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so (FANBOYS for short).

NB:

These solutions restore sentences boundaries

so that it is clear where one idea ends and the next one begins.