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7  Comma splices and Fused Sentences

Like unintentional sentence fragments, comma splices and fused or run-on sentences are serious errors in writing. In speaking, you quite naturally run clauses together, linking or separating them with breaths and pauses. In writing, you must use coordinating conjunctions and punctuation marks to link or separate clauses. If you are not careful, your speech habits will influence your writing habits, and your work will be marred by comma splices and fused or run-on sentences.

7a  Do not write comma splices and fused or run-on sentences.  

A comma splice occurs when main clauses are joined by a comma alone.

Once Stewartwas a small mountain town of only a few dozen households, today it is a busy city of sixty thousand people.

A fused or run-on sentence occurs when main clauses are joined without a coordinating conjunction or any punctuation mark.

Women jockeys have had great success they work hard to achieve their goals.

Comma splices and fused or run-on sentences can be corrected in four ways.

1. Use a period to make two separate sentences.

Once Stewart was a small mountain town of only a few dozen households. Today it is a busy city of sixty thousand people.

Women jockeys have had great success. They work hard to achieve their goals.

2. Use a semicolon to show a close relation between the main clauses.

Once Stewart was a small mountain town on lnly a few dozen households; today it is a busy city of sixty thousand people.

Women jockeys have had great success; they work hard to achieve their goals.

NOTE: When two main clauses are joined by a conjunctive adverb, such as nevertheless, consequently, however, or therefore, a semicolon must come before the clause containing the conjunctive adverb. (See conjunctive adverb.)

Women jockeys work hard to achieve their goals; therefore, they have had great success.

3. Use a comma and a coordinating conjunction to show the appropriate relation betw2een the main clauses. (See coordinating conjunction.)

Once Stewart was a small mountain town on lnly a few dozen households, but today it is a busy city of sixty thousand people.

Women jockeys work hard to achieve their goals, and they have had great success.

4. Use a subordinating conjunction to intorduce the less important clause. (See subordinating conjunction.)

Although Stewart was once a small mountain town on lnly a few dozen households, today it is a busy city of sixty thousand people.

Women jockeys have had great success because they work hard to achieve their goals.

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