What is a Comma Splice?

A comma splice occurs when you join two complete sentences together with only a comma. Sentences can be joined in various ways, but a comma alone is not one of those ways.

Example

My dog dislikes its new dog food, I will have to find an alternative.

How can you join two sentences together?

• Use a comma and a coordinating conjunction ( for, or, nor, yet, but, and, so)


• EXAMPLE My dog dislikes its new dog food, so I will have to find an alternative.

• Use a semicolon (;) alone


• EXAMPLE My dog dislikes its new dog food; I will have to find an alternative.

• Use a semicolon and an adverbial conjunction (therefore, however, finally, first, also) and then add a comma.


• EXAMPLE My dog dislikes its new dog food; therefore, I will have to find an alternative.

How can you separate the two sentences?

• Use a period (.)

For a list of more conjunctions, quizzes or extra review, visit my online course plan and scroll down.