1. Let’s learn about … COMMA SPLICES & RUN-ON SENTENCES
UNIVERSITY ACADEMIC WRITING 101
Grammar Worksheets: Comma Splices, Worksheet 1, 8 Exercises

2. What is a COMMA SPLICE?
What is a Comma? A punctuation mark ( , ) used to indicate a pause or separation of ideas or of elements within the structure of a sentence. “Commas help clarify meaning for the reader”(Purdue, 2012).
What is Splice? A verb meaning “to join or unite”
So a Comma Splice is when a punctuation mark, a comma, is incorrectly used in an attempt to join two sentence clauses. (Note: a sentence clause has a subject and a verb)
It’s wrong, It’s not right, It’s unacceptable!

3. What is a COMMA SPLICE? The Problem:
The comma splice is a fairly common error in written English. It occurs when a writer joins two independent clauses with a comma and nothing else.
The Solution:
When two independent clauses are next to each other, you have only two choices: you can either join them, or you can separate them.
Please Note: An independent clause has a subject and a verb and forms a complete thought.

4. What is a COMMA SPLICE? Assignment 1.1
Directions: Find different ways to cure the comma splice issue below.
1. Robert likes Mary, Mary dislikes Robert.

5. How do you fix a COMMA SPLICE? Five common ways to fix a comma splice;
Make two sentences instead of one: Use a period, (question mark, or exclamation mark -if appropriate)
Robert likes Mary. Mary dislikes Robert.
Use a semicolon (;)
Robert likes Mary; Mary dislikes Robert.
Use a subordinating conjunction
(because, when, since, although,...)
Although Robert likes Mary, Mary dislikes Robert.
Use a coordinating conjunction -FANBOYS
(for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so) after the comma.
Robert likes Mary, but Mary dislikes Robert.
A subordinating conjunction is a word that connects a main clause to a subordinate clause. What do these terms mean you ask? Well, a main clause is an independent clause that can stand alone by itself as a sentence. In other words, a main clause does not need any additional information to operate as a sentence. For example, the sentence "The student failed the test" is an example of a main clause.
*A subordinate clause is a dependent clause that adds some extra information to the main clause. These phrases cannot stand by themselves, and their meaning is dependent upon that of the independent clause. They are not sentences! -

6. COMMA SPLICE? Assignment 1.2
How do you fix a
COMMA SPLICE? Assignment 1.2
Directions: Each sentence below is wrong; it has a comma splice Please correct it.
The team is not doing very well, they may never win again.
He claims Walmart is not his favorite store, he shops there every week.
She turned off her phone, she did not want to be tempted to text and drive.
Designer clothes are less of a concern, inflation makes everyone less materialistic.

7. What is a RUN-ON SENTENCE?
The Problem:
Some students think that a run-on sentence
is just a particularly long sentence, one that "runs on" for a while. Well, there's more to it than that.
Run-on sentences occur when two
independent clauses are joined without any punctuation. A Run-on sentences is different
from a comma splice. In run-on sentences no commas are used between the two
independent clauses.
An independent clause can stand alone as a complete sentence with a subject; it is the opposite of a fragment.

8. What is a RUN-ON SENTENCE?
It is important to realize that the length of a sentence really has nothing to do with whether a sentence is a run-on or not; being a run-on is a structural flaw that can plague even a very short sentence:
The sun is high put on some
sunblock.

9. How do you fix a RUN-ON SENTENCE?
The Solution:
You can fix a run-on sentence the same way you would fix a comma splice…
Make two sentences instead of one:
Use a *semicolon (;)
NOTE: When using semicolons, the two independent clauses must share a related or common idea. You can not use a semicolon in the following sentence:
“Christine loves hot chocolate; I am watching TV.”
These two clauses are completely unrelated.
Employ a *colon in place of the comma when what follows is a definition or explanation stemming from the first clause
Use a *subordinating conjunction (because, when, since, although,...)
Use a *coordinating conjunction–FANBOYS (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so) after the comma.

10. How do you fix a RUN-ON SENTENCE?
Assignment 1.3
Exercises: Each sentence below is wrong; each is a run-on sentence. Please correct it.
1.) Janine's uncle never graduated from high school he started
his own company at age sixteen.
2.) I have had an Apple computer for a year now I have no
regrets about buying it.
3. ) The teacher distributed several worksheets some of them
were taken directly from the textbook.
4.) Amar Chang has won fourteen consecutive matches he
is three shy of the record.
*Semicolons are easy to use correctly, as long as you remember one simple rule about semicolon use: a semicolon should be used to separate two independent clauses (or complete sentences) that are closely related in meaning. To help you determine if you are using a semicolon correctly, just ask yourself if a period would be correct if used where the semicolon is used. If so, then you have used the semicolon correctly. If a comma could be used where a semicolon is used, then the semicolon is not used correctly. To some extent, periods and semicolons are interchangeable--in many situations, you can use one or the other. But semicolons and commas are not interchangeable--if you can replace a semicolon with a comma, you have used the semicolon incorrectly. source-

11. CONGRATULATIONS! You made an
For more practice please visit the Purdue Online Writing Lab hosted by Purdue University…