• 3-minute read
• 22nd May 2017

Punctuation Tips: Comma Splices and How to Fix Them

Comma splices are easy to miss, many writers use them every day.

In fact, we used one in that last sentence! Did you spot it?  If not, you need to learn how to spot and fix comma splices in your written work.

What are Comma Splices?

A comma splice is when a comma is used to join two independent clauses (i.e. full sentences). Although commas can be used for many things, this isn’t one of them.

For instance, take the opening sentence from this post:

Comma splices are easy to miss, many writers use them every day.

Here, the clauses on both sides of the comma express a complete thought. As such, they need something stronger than a comma to separate them. So what are your options?

Full Stop + New Sentence

The most obvious solution is to write each clause as a separate sentence. This involves using a full stop instead of a comma and capitalising the first letter in the second clause:

Comma splices are easy to miss. Many writers use them every day.

This is clearer and sounds less hurried than the original. But what if we want to emphasise the connection between the two sentences? Well, we have a few options here too!

Comma + Conjunction

Two independent clauses can be joined with a comma when the second starts with a coordinating conjunction. For example, if we add ‘and’ before the second clause:

Comma splices are easy to miss, and many writers use them every day.

This preserves the flow of the original sentence while eliminating the incorrect punctuation.

Adding a Semicolon

Alternatively, two closely related independent clauses can be joined using a semicolon. In this case, the semicolon would take the place of the comma:

Comma splices are easy to miss; many writers use them every day.

Since comma splices often arise when one sentence follows closely from another, using a semicolon is a neat way of maintaining this closeness while ensuring correct punctuation.

Subordinate It

Finally, you could change the sentence more dramatically by making the first clause a subordinate clause. This is an incomplete sentence that begins with a subordinate conjunction, such as ‘since’:

Since comma splices are easy to miss, many writers use them every day.

In this case, we have a subordinate clause that gives a reason for the main clause. We use a comma to separate them because the subordinate clause comes first in the sentence.