Exercise Sheet: Comma Splices

Revise Comma Splices: Two separate sentences

Revise these comma splices by making two separate sentences.

1. Even though everybody was prepared for it, the storm still caused extensive
damage, power is out all over the city.
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2. Fitzgerald wrote The Great Gatsby, it is a great American novel.

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3. Primaries are held during election years, because it wants to have influence
over the general election, New Hampshire always holds the first primary.

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Revise Comma Splices: Use a semicolon

Revise these comma splices by connecting two independent clauses with a
semicolon.

1. My whole family was at my graduation, and I was recognized as valedictorian

it was an important event.

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 2. Dolphins often follow moving ships, they like the sounds the engines make.

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3. Two teenagers were trampled at the concert, it was a tragedy that could have
been prevented.

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Revise Comma Splices: Use subordination

Revise these comma splices by making one of the independent clauses
dependent.

1. I went to the pharmacy, I needed to refill my prescription.

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2. I dislike my sister’s boyfriend, I helped him anyway, but he wasn’t very

grateful.

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3. The team won the game, they went out for pizza.

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Revise Comma Splices: Add a coordinating conjunction

Revise these comma splices by adding a coordinating conjunction.

1. Jack majored in computer science, he minored in physics, now he is a

journalist for a major newspaper.

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 2. The doctor agreed to examine the patient, he refused to write her a
prescription, she went to another doctor to get a second opinion.

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3. The state is building a new highway, it will be easier to get across town,
especially during rush hour and holiday weekends.

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Identify and correct comma splices in a paragraph.

Find all the comma splices in the following paragraph. Correct them using one of
the four methods discussed in the handout. Rewrite the corrected sentences in
the space provided

1
Looking for a job can be difficult, it takes a lot of time and energy to find

the right position. 2There are several places to locate jobs, some people find

listings in the newspaper or on the internet, however most people hear about

openings by word of mouth. 3Job seekers find positions they want to apply to,

they must prepare a cover letter and resume. 4A cover letter announces a

person’s interest in a particular position, it gives the job applicant a chance to

highlight his skills and experience and explain why he would be a strong

candidate. 5A resume should include a list of previous jobs the applicant has

held with duties and accomplishment for each listing, many people also include a

section on education in their resumes. 6The cover letter and resume must be

perfect, a single careless mistake could cause the potential employer to throw
them away. 7Job seekers often have to apply to many different jobs before they

are even called for an interview. 8The interview is the hardest part of the job

search, it can be stressful to answer the interviewer’s questions confidently and

thoroughly without seeming nervous, however, a successful interview can almost

guarantee the job applicant a position with the company. 9Conducting a job

search is tiresome, with persistence, a strong cover letter and resume, and a

standout interview, anyone can find the right job.

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 Answer Key: Comma Splices
Revise Comma Splices: Two separate sentences
Revise these comma splices by making two separate sentences.

1. Even though everybody was prepared for it, the storm still caused extensive
damage. Power is out all over the city.

2. Fitzgerald wrote The Great Gatsby. It is a great American novel.

3. Primaries are held during election years. Because it wants to have influence
over the general election, New Hampshire always holds the first primary.

Revise Comma Splices: Use a semicolon

Revise these comma splices by connecting two independent clauses with a semicolon.

1. My whole family was at my graduation, and I was recognized as valedictorian;

it was an important event.

2. Dolphins often follow moving ships; they like the sounds the engines make.

3. Two teenagers were trampled at the concert; it was a tragedy that could have
been prevented.

Revise Comma Splices: Use subordination

Revise these comma splices by making one of the independent clauses dependent.

1. I went to the pharmacy because I needed to refill my prescription.

2. Although I dislike my sister’s boyfriend, I helped him anyway, but he wasn’t

very grateful.

3. After the team won the game, they went out for pizza.

Revise Comma Splices: Add a coordinating conjunction

Revise these comma splices by adding a coordinating conjunction.
 1. Jack majored in computer science, then he minored in physics, and now he is a
journalist for a major newspaper.

2. The doctor agreed to examine the patient, but he refused to write her a
prescription, so she went to another doctor to get a second opinion.

3. The state is building a new highway, and it will be easier to get across town,
especially during rush hour and holiday weekends.

Identify and correct comma splices in a paragraph.

Find all the comma splices in the following paragraph. Correct them using one of
the four methods discussed in the handout. Rewrite the corrected sentences in
the space provided

1. Looking for a job can be difficult, and it takes a lot of time and energy to find

the right position.

2. There are several places to locate jobs. Some people find listings in the

newspaper or on the internet; however, most people hear about openings by

word of mouth.

3. Job seekers find positions they want to apply to, and then they must prepare

a cover letter and resume.

4. A cover letter announces a person’s interest in a particular position, and it

gives the job applicant a chance to highlight his skills and experience and

explain why he would be a strong candidate.

5. A resume should include a list of previous jobs the applicant has held with

duties and accomplishment for each listing; many people also include a

section on education in their resumes.

6. The cover letter and resume must be perfect because a single careless

mistake could cause the potential employer to throw them away.

7. Job seekers often have to apply to many different jobs before they are even

called for an interview.

8. The interview is the hardest part of the job search because it can be stressful

to answer the interviewer’s questions confidently and thoroughly without

seeming nervous. However, a successful interview can almost guarantee the

job applicant a position with the company.

9. Conducting a job search is tiresome, but with persistence, a strong cover

letter and resume, and a standout interview, anyone can find the right job.