The term comma splice refers to a situation in which two or more independent clauses complete senten

1
The term comma splice refers to a situation in
which two or more independent clauses (complete
sentences) are connected with a comma only.
2

• When a writer ends a sentence, she must use the
  right punctuation to signal the end of the
  thought to her readers. The three types of
  punctuation strong enough perform this function
  are the period, the question mark, and the
  exclamation point.
• A comma is too weak to act as a boundary between
  the complete thoughts expressed by different
  sentences.

In both examples, two individual sentences are
related but complete and grammatically
independent.
For more information on this hierarchy, see
Punctuation as a System
3
There are several ways to approach the correction
of a comma splice. Consider the subtly different
effect each of these methods have on our sample
comma splice sentence The butcher was fond of
long, quiet walks on the beach, his wife
preferred lively evenings of gin rummy by a warm
fire.
4
The fundamental key to fixing comma splices is
learning to identify independent clauses
(complete sentences). If you can master this,
you can easily determine whether your comma is
splicing. The it is obvious that . . . techniqu
e is a useful strategy for identifying complete
sentences.
Try it out on a couple of sample sentences
Do we have a comma splice?What do you think?
Comma splice?
5
Check the box if the sample sentence has a comma
splice.
My new exercise program has presented a
logistical challenge, it requires that I run five
yards every twenty minutes over the course of
eleven hours.
Vern thinks my plan to disprove Einsteins the
theory of relativity using a rocket-mounted
flashlight is genius, Fred thinks Im a crackpot.
Lately Ive been working non-stop on my new
novel, a modern adaptation of Beowulf that will
alter the landscape of fiction forever.
I wanted to spend my summer vacation hiking the
steppes of Russia, I spent it at the beanie baby
convention in Tulsa instead.
Herberts request for a raise was rejected, so he
began to formulate a plan for generating extra
income selling bait.
Violet sold the recipe for the secret sauce on
e-bay, breaking the hearts of her stunned
co-workers.
Harold isnt your typical tacky night-club
singer/magician, hes a real class act.
Because Mr. Bulstrode was particular about his
suits, he only trusted his laundry to the finest
dry cleaner and most expensive tailor in town.
I have always regretted quitting my piano
lessons, the only thing I can play is Chopsticks.

I think my mother has come to terms with my
decision to leave medical school, though she
still drops hints whenever we drive by an
ambulance.
Phylliss Feedbag didnt have the friendliest
waiters or the cleanest silverware, it did serve
the best bowl of chili Walter had ever tasted.