The document discusses comma splices and how to identify and correct them. It defines a comma splice as using a comma to join two independent clauses. Five ways to fix comma splices are presented: 1) Replace the comma with a period 2) Replace the comma with a semicolon 3) Replace the comma with a conjunction 4) Reword the sentence 5) Make one clause dependent on the other to create a complex sentence. Comma splices can be identified by checking if each section before and after the comma makes sense on its own.

1. San Juan College Student Success Center
Writing Center
Sentence Structure 101
Run- ons: Comma Splices
A comma splice is the use of a comma between statements, which make sense when
independently stated and are grammatically correct (these are called independent clauses), that
are not connected without an appropriate conjunction (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so) or
punctuation mark.
Incorrect: The parents were still having to buy all their children’s books, they had to learn
everything from spelling rules to grammar rules.
Correct: The parents were still having to buy all their children’s books. They had to learn
everything from spelling rules to grammar rules.
Incorrect: My brother is into sports, when he was little he wanted to be a coach.
Correct: My brother is into sports. When he was little he wanted to be a coach.
Checking to see if a Sentence has a Comma Splice
Comma splices can be easily corrected by asking yourself these questions.
• Would the section before the comma make sense on its own?
• How about the section after the comma?
If the answer is yes, then it is a comma splice.
Correcting Comma Splices
There are at least five ways of fixing comma splices.
1) Replace the comma with a period.
Example: Many people are afraid of computers they do not realize how easy it is to
learn basic tasks.
Many people are afraid of computers. They do not realize how
easy it is to learn basic tasks
More on back
2) Replace the comma with a semicolon.
San Juan College’s Student Success Center’s Writing Center is only offering suggestions or ideas to improve papers.
These are not algebraic formulas that must be followed. The final decision is up to the writer.

2. San Juan College Student Success Center
Writing Center
Sentence Structure 101
Run- ons: Comma Splices
Example: It is hope that keeps people going, hope keeps people alive.
It is hope that keeps people going; hope keeps people alive.
3) Replace the comma with a conjunction.
Example: It was the congregation that has gone mad over why the parson had
covered his face with a black veil, it is Parson Hooper that didn’t like
the masks he saw on his congregation.
It was the congregation that has gone mad over why the parson had
covered his face with a black veil, and it is Parson Hooper that didn’t like
the masks he saw on his congregation.
4) Reword the sentence.
Example: Charles Babbage also tired to solve navigational equations by using a
25,000 component machine, he was one of the first to try this.
Charles Babbage was one of the first to try to solve navigational
equations by using a 25,000 component machine.
5) Make one section of sentence dependent on the other (known as a subordinating one
clause to make it a dependent clause) to create a complex sentence.
Example: Mary walked into the room, she found a mouse on her desk.
When Mary walked into the room, she found a mouse on her desk.
San Juan College’s Student Success Center’s Writing Center is only offering suggestions or ideas to improve papers.
These are not algebraic formulas that must be followed. The final decision is up to the writer.