COMMA SPLICES AND FUSED SENTENCES

I. Comma Splice: Only a comma between two main sentences.

a) I invited her to visit school any time she could, she graciously accepted and left. [Incorrect sentence]

b) I invited her to visit school any time she could; she graciously accepted and left. [Corrected sentence]

**Strategies for Correcting Comma Splices:

1. Join two separate sentences (independent clauses) with a comma plus a coordinating conjunction [and, but, or, for, nor, so, yet].

___________________, and _______________.

2. Create two separate sentences.

_________________. Capital letter _____________.

3. Join two independent clauses with a semicolon.

_______________; _________________.

4. Join two independent clauses with a semicolon and a conjunctive adverb or a transitional expression [however, moreover, therefore, likewise, thus, for example, in contrast].

___________________; however, _____________________.

5. Subordinate one of the two clauses [although, while, when, because, since, unless].

Although________________, ___________________.

II. Fused Sentence: (Also known as a run-on sentence) No punctuation between independent clauses.