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A comma splice is made when two independent clauses are joined only by a comma. An independent clause is one that can stand alone as a sentence.

Comma Splice The day was hot, the night was even hotter.

Correct The day was hot. The night was even hotter.

A fused sentence, also known as a run-on sentence, occurs when two independent clauses are joined without a conjunction or proper punctuation.

Fused The day was hot the night was even hotter.

Correct The day was hot, but the night was even hotter.

A sentence always includes a subject (S) and a predicate (P). A sentence predicate is composed of a verb (V), and often includes its object (O) and a subject complement (SC).

The subject of a sentence identifies who or what the sentence is about. Often, the subject performs the action of the verb.

The predicate of a sentence includes a verb that expresses either an action or a state of being and tells something about the subject.

The object of a sentence identifies who or what receives the action described by the verb.

A sentence complement completes the predicate by reiterating or describing the subject or object.

One way to correct a comma splice or fused sentence is to separate each of the independent clauses by placing a period between them. Each clause becomes its own stand-alone sentence.

Comma Splice The comma splice is easy to identify, it uses a comma instead of a period or semicolon to separate two independent clauses.

Correct The comma splice is easy to identify. It uses a comma instead of a period or semicolon to separate two independent clauses.

Another way to correct a comma splice or fused sentence is to connect each clause with a coordinating conjunction, such as and, nor, or, but, yet, or so. A coordinating conjunction often signals the relationship between the two clauses in a fused or spliced sentence. In the example below, using the coordinating conjunction but indicates the clauses are in some way opposite from one another.

Comma Splice T.J. is an excellent basketball player, he will not enter the draft this season.

Correct T.J. is an excellent basketball player, but he will not enter the draft this season.

You may correct a comma splice or fused sentence by using a semicolon. Using a semicolon rather than a period between two clauses in a fused or spliced sentence emphasizes the relationship between the ideas in each clause. The effect is often that both clauses appear equally important.

Comma Splice Ellen joined the track team, she’s a great runner.

Correct Ellen joined the track team; she’s a great runner.

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Sometimes one independent clause in a fused sentence is more important than the other—in such cases, you may want to use subordination to fix the sentence. Subordinating the less important clause places emphasis on the more relevant part of the sentence. As with the semicolon, this strategy allows you to illustrate how ideas relate to one another in a sentence.

Fused Tomás always gets speeding tickets he will probably lose his license.

Correct Because Tomás always gets speeding tickets, he will probably lose his license.

A conjunctive adverb explains the relationship between two independent clauses. Such relationships may include time (afterward, earlier), opposition (conversely, on the other hand), likeness (similarly, accordingly), or summary (as a result, thus). Conjunctive adverbs can be used to correct comma splices or fused sentences; to make this correction, place a semicolon before the conjunctive adverb and a comma afterward, as in the example below.

Comma Splice Hardly anyone at the wedding reception left early, the guests stayed and danced until four in the morning.

Correct Hardly anyone at the wedding reception left early; on the contrary, guests stayed and danced until four in the morning.