UMM Writing Room
Handout 2.7
Comma splices, fused sentences and run-ons
occur because two complete sentences (independent clauses) are joined incorrectly.
Comma splices are two complete sentences that are joined with only
a comma.
________________________________, ______________________________.
Fused sentences are two sentences joined together with nothing between
them.
______________________________ | ________________________________.
Run-ons are two sentences joined together with only a coordinating
conjunction.
______________________________ and ______________________________.
These are inappropriate ways to join two sentences. Here is an example:
I made lasagna I made garlic bread.
To correct this problem, you can think
of complete sentences as individual "scenes" that can be arranged
in five different ways: number one has the strongest separation:
1. The strongest separation is the period.
I made lasagna. I made garlic bread.
2. If you want to separate the two sentences but still keep their ideas
close together, you can use a semicolon.
I made lasagna; I made garlic bread.
3. Sometimes, you may want to make the second sentence relate to the
first. You can use a semicolon with a relationship word such
as therefore, still, consequently, l likewise, then, moreover, also,
otherwise, however, nevertheless, in fact, instead, for example, n addition,
furthermore
I made lasagna; then I made garlic bread.
4. You can also use a comma with a coordinating conjunction. They
must be used together in order to create a strong enough separation. Coordinating
conjunctions are: and, or, but, nor, yet, so, for
I made lasagna, and I made garlic bread.
5. You can make one sentence part of, or subordinate to, the
other sentence by adding a subordinator. Subordinators: after, although,
as, as if, as long as, where, whereas, whether, while, which, so that, than,
though, till, who, whom, why, how, whose.
After I made lasagna, I made garlic bread.
OR
I made lasagna before I made garlic bread.