Comma Splices and Fused Sentences

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Comma Splices and Fused Sentences

• By
• Alfred Taylor

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Comma Splices Fused Sentences

• A run-on sentence is created when two
  independent clauses or complete sentences are
  joined together incorrectly. There are two types
  of run-ons the comma splice and the fused
  sentence.
• Spock, in an attempt to make nurse Chapel
  jealous, ate six large pizzas, drank a two liter
  bottle of Pepsi, and danced until four in the
  morning with strangely green Amazon women who
  wore big hair and far too much make-up.
• This sentence is long, but it is not a run-on.

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Comma Splices Fused Sentences

• An independent clause is another way of saying
  complete sentence. For example, Spock drank a
  Pepsi is an independent clause because it has a
  subject, a verb, and it expresses a complete
  thought. Spock is the subject. Drank is the
  verb, and Pepsi is the direct object. Although a
  sentence does not need an object to be complete.

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Comma Splices Fused Sentences

• Spock drank a Pepsi he enjoyed it.
• This sentence is a type of run-on known as the
  fused sentence. Two independent clauses are
  stuck together without punctuation.
• Spock drank a Pepsi, he enjoyed it.
• This sentence is a type of run-on known as the
  comma splice. Two independent clauses are stuck
  together with a comma.

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Comma Splices Fused Sentences

• Both comma splices and fused sentences are
  corrected in one of four ways
• 1) Insert a period between the two clauses.
• 2) Use a coordinating conjunction.
• 3) Change one of the independent clauses into a
  dependent clause and join them in a complex
  sentence.
• 4) Insert a conjunctive adverb between the
  clauses.

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Comma Splices Fused Sentences

• Do not correct a comma splice or a fused
  sentence by placing a lone semicolon between the
  clauses. The textbook may say that this is
  grammatically correct, but it results in choppy
  sentences with weak coherence. This may work in
  high-school, but in college instructors expect
  more. Please dont abuse the semicolon.
  Otherwise your writing will end up here.

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Comma Splices Fused Sentences

• The easiest way to correct a comma splice is
  with a period however, this isnt the best way
  because the period doesnt relate ideas very
  well.
• Spock drank a Pepsi, he enjoyed it. (comma
  splice)
• Spock drank a Pepsi. He enjoyed it.
  (corrected)
• Even though the sentence is now technically
  correct, the relationship between the ideas in
  each sentence could be stronger.

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Comma Splices Fused Sentences

• The next way to correct a comma splice is with a
  coordinating conjunction. The seven coordinating
  conjunctions are the FONYBAS words. This isnt a
  real bass. Its a FONYBAS (phony-bass), so to
  remember the seven coordinating conjunctions,
  think about this plastic fish.

Please see my PowerPoint on sentence variety.
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Comma Splices Fused Sentences

• For
• Or
• Nor
• Yet
• But
• And
• So

• The first letters of the seven coordinating
  conjunctions (for, or, nor, yet, but, and, so)
  spell fonybas when they are written out
  vertically. These seven coordinating
  conjunctions are among the most powerful words in
  the English language because by changing the
  conjunction, the entire meaning of the sentence
  is changed.

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Comma Splices Fused Sentences

• Spock drank a Pepsi, he enjoyed it. If a
  coordinating conjunction is used to correct this
  comma splice the meaning will change slightly for
  each coordinating conjunction used.
• In order to use a coordinating conjunction, the
  sentence must have two independent clauses that
  make sense together and the relationship implied
  by the coordinating conjunction must also make
  sense.

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Comma Splices Fused Sentences

• Spock drank a Pepsi, for he enjoyed it. This
  means that Spock drinks Pepsi because he enjoys
  drinking Pepsi. He does it for simple enjoyment.
• Spock drank a Pepsi, yet he enjoyed it. This
  means that Spock drank the Pepsi not expecting to
  enjoy it, but he enjoyed it anyway.

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Comma Splices Fused Sentences

• Spock drank a Pepsi, and he enjoyed it. This
  means that Spock drank the Pepsi and he received
  enjoyment from it. Two events occurred without
  much of a relationship between them.
• Spock drank a Pepsi, so he enjoyed it. This
  means that as a result of drinking Pepsi, Spock
  received enjoyment. The enjoyment seems forced
  upon Spock as if he had no other choice.

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Comma Splices Fused Sentences

• Saying Spock drank a Pepsi, nor he enjoyed it
  is faulty coordination. The connecting word does
  not make sense with the other two sentences.
• Saying Spock drank a Pepsi and enjoyed it is a
  simple sentence with a compound verb. enjoyed
  it is not an independent clause, so and in
  this case is not operating as a coordinating
  conjunction. No comma is needed in this
  sentence. It is not a compound, or coordinate,
  sentence.

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Comma Splices Fused Sentences

• The next way to correct a comma splice or fused
  sentence is with subordination, or a complex
  sentence. One of the sentences must be changed
  into a dependent clause or a fragment and
  attached to the other.
• To change a sentence into a dependent clause,
  use a subordinating word. Placing a
  subordinating word in front of a sentence weakens
  the sentences meaning and makes it dependent
  upon another sentence.

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Comma Splices Fused Sentences

• Subordinating words include words such as
• after before until although
• if when as once
• where as if since whenever
• that because unless wherever
• while
• And Relative Pronouns such as
• that whatever who(m) whose
• what which whoever whomever

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Comma Splices Fused Sentences

• Spock drank a Pepsi is an independent clause
  however, When Spock drank a Pepsi is a
  dependent clause because it no longer has any
  meaning by itself. When Spock drank a Pepsi,
  what happened? So the dependent clause must be
  attached to an independent clause to have
  meaning.
• When Spock drank a Pepsi, he enjoyed it.
• Dependent Clause Independent Clause

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Comma Splices Fused Sentences

• If the dependent clause precedes the independent
  clause, then use a comma to separate the two
  clauses.
• When Spock drank a Pepsi, he enjoyed it.
• If the independent clause precedes the dependent
  clause, then no comma is necessary.
• Spock enjoyed it when he drank a Pepsi.

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Comma Splices Fused Sentences

• In a complex sentence, the independent clause is
  the more important part of the sentence.
  Important information must be put in the
  independent clause of a complex sentence. The
  dependent clause only serves to add extra
  information as to where or when the event in the
  independent clause occurred.

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Comma Splices Fused Sentences

• The last way to correct a comma splice or a
  fused sentence is with a conjunctive adverb.
  Conjunctive adverbs are transitional words that
  join independent clauses together much like
  coordinating conjunctions however, since
  conjunctive adverbs employ semicolons as a part
  of their syntax, they are a bit like crying
  wolf. If they are overused, the reader stops
  paying attention.

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Comma Splices Fused Sentences

• Common conjunctive adverbs include
• accordingly furthermore meanwhile
• similarly also hence
• anyway however nevertheless
• then besides incidentally
• next thereafter certainly
• indeed nonetheless therefore
• consequently instead now
• thus finally otherwise

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Comma Splices Fused Sentences

• To correct a comma splice with a conjunctive
  adverb, insert the conjunctive adverb and its
  punctuation between the two independent clauses.
• Spock drank a Pepsi, he enjoyed it. (comma
  splice)
• Spock drank a Pepsi hence, he enjoyed it.
  (corrected)
• A semicolon must precede the conjunctive adverb
  and a comma must follow it, otherwise it isnt a
  conjunctive adverb but merely a transitional word.

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Comma Splices Fused Sentences

• Spock drank a Pepsi hence, he enjoyed it.
• The semicolon forces the reader to pause and
  reflect upon the content of the first independent
  clause. Then the reader reads the transitional
  word and ponders its relationship to the first
  independent clause before moving on to complete
  the sentence. Using a conjunctive adverb is like
  slapping the reader in the face. If it is
  overused it becomes annoying.

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Comma Splices Fused Sentences

• The conjunctive adverb is a wonderful way to get
  the readers attention
• without shouting!
• The exclamation mark does not
• belong in college writing. Particularly because
  instructors hate to be shouted at by students,
  but mostly because there are better methods for
  gaining the readers attention.

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Comma Splices Fused Sentences

• The End