Editor's Corner

Way back in February, we talked a little bit about run-on sentences and how to fix them (Editor’s Corner 02/20/2018). Today’s topic of discussion is the comma splice, the run-on sentence’s crazy cousin.

Comma splices are related to run-ons in that they both connect independent clauses incorrectly. With a comma splice, a comma connects the two independent clauses.

For example: We make popcorn after dinner every night, we then watch a movie and eat snacks together. (Incorrect)

Let’s have a look at some different ways to fix the problem.

1. Break the two clauses into separate sentences.

Correct: We make popcorn after dinner every night. We then watch a movie and eat snacks together.

2. Add a coordinating conjunction and a comma.

Correct: We make popcorn after dinner every night, and we then watch a movie and eat snacks together.

3. Change the comma to a semicolon.

Correct: We make popcorn after dinner every night; we then watch a movie and eat snacks together.

Kara Church

Technical Editor, Advisory

Symitar Documentation Services