Clarity

Quick Help: Editing for comma splices and fused sentences

If you find no punctuation between two of your independent clauses—groups of words that can stand alone as sentences—you have identified a fused sentence. If you find two such clauses joined only by a comma, you have identified a comma splice. Revise comma splices and fused sentences with one of these methods.

Separate the clauses into two sentences.
Link the clauses with a comma and a coordinating conjunction (and, but, or, nor, for, so, or yet).
Link the clauses with a semicolon.

If the clauses are linked with only a comma and a conjunctive adverb—a word like however, then, therefore—add a semicolon.
Recast the two clauses as one independent clause.
Recast one independent clause as a dependent clause.
In informal writing, link the clauses with a dash.