Comma Splices: NO!!!!

Grammar Workshop
 What is a Comma Splice?
• “To splice” means “to join.”
• A comma splice joins two
complete sentences with
a comma.
• This is wrong, wrong,
wrong (just like splicing
insect and human DNA)!
 Review: What is a complete
sentence?
• A complete sentence consists of a
subject and a verb (or in the case of
clauses, a complete verb outside of the
clause:
• The Simpsons was a hilarious show
back in the early mid-1990s.
• Sheena loves video games, especially
those in the survival horror genre.
 Examples of comma splice
• He isn’t a great cook, he burns
everything.
• David hates reality T.V. shows, he
prefers to watch sports.
• The class was boring, I fell asleep.
• Iguanas make great
pets, they are so cute!
 Defeating The Splice
• Four Ways:
– Use a period to break the sentence into
two.
– Use a coordinating conjunction.
– Use a semicolon.
– Make one sentence
subordinate
 Use a Period
• Make your sentence into two!
• CHANGE: Dad has a headache, I can’t
play guitar.
• INTO: Dad has a headache. I can’t play
guitar.
• However, this makes your writing
sound choppy and robot-like.
 Conjunctions?
• Conjunctions are
little words that
join two complete
sentences!
• The most popular
conjunctions are
“coordinating
conjunctions.”
 FANBOYS?
• FANBOYS is an acronym to remember
the seven most popular coordinating
conjunctions.
• For, And, Not, But, Or, Yet, So
• Sharon tried to drive the car, but the car
wouldn’t start.
• You should wear a helmet, or you might
hurt your head.
• Rob cannot swim, so he does not go to
the beach
 Use a semicolon
• A semi-colon joins two complete
sentences together that are
immediately related:
– Dad has a headache; I can’t play
guitar.
– Class was exciting; I had fun.
Make one sentence subordinate
• Remember subordinators?
• Because Dad has a headache, I can’t
play guitar.
• Until dad has a
headache, I will play
guitar!
 To recap…

• If you’ve got a comma splice, I can fix it.

• You’ve got a comma splice, but I can fix it.
• You’ve got a comma splice; I can fix it.
• You’ve got a comma splice. I can fix it.
 Just when you thought it was
safe to compose a sentence….

O n
Run es
t enc
Sen
• A run on sentence
is NOT a really
long sentence.
• A run on sentence
is a group of
sentences
clustered together
without any
punctuation
separating the
independent
clauses.
 Example
• I really love going to
the movies when I go
with my friends we
usually have a great
time however
sometimes we fight
over which film to go
and see.
“Let us now
doo dis
verksheet on
coma splices
and run-on
sentunces.”
 #1
• I like cats, however they can be a pain
sometimes.
• I like cats; however, they can be a pain
sometimes.
 #2
• My cat however is the best cat ever.
• My cat, however, is the best cat ever.
 #3
• He is not fat although he eats a lot.
• He is not fat, although he eats a lot.
 #4
• He slapped his desk in disgust, he
failed another test and had ruined his
chances for passing this year his only
option was to take the course over.
• He slapped his desk in disgust. He
failed another test and had ruined his
chances for passing this year. His only
option was to take the course over.
 #5
• I struggled to keep my head above water I
tried to shout for help but nobody heard
eventually I sank to the bottom of the lake all
of the fish looked at me with sorrow in their
eyes.
• I struggled to keep my head above water. I
tried to shout for help but nobody heard.
Eventually, I sank to the bottom of the lake .
All of the fish looked at me with sorrow in
their eyes.
 #6
• The earthquake was devastating, tall
buildings crumbled and fell to the
ground.

• The earthquake was devastating. Tall

buildings crumbled and fell to the
ground.
 #7
• Some people collect butterflies for a
hobby these collections are sometimes
worth a lot of money today we are
going to the zoo to look at some
butterflies.
• Some people collect butterflies for a
hobby. These collections are
sometimes worth a lot of money. Today,
we are going to the zoo to look at some
butterflies.
 #8
• Jen made many promises she had no
intention of keeping first she said she
was going to the store and then she
said she was going to the mall instead
she left the country and traveled to
Scotland once there she changed her
name to Willy.
 #8
• Jen made many promises she had no
intention of keeping. First, she said she
was going to the store, and then she
said she was going to the mall. Instead,
she left the country and traveled to
Scotland. Once there, she changed her
name to Willy.
 #9
• It was raining hard, a strong wind blew
all of the birds stayed together in the
barn where the rain soaked through the
roof lightning struck a tree outside.
• It was raining hard. A strong wind blew.
All of the birds stayed together in the
barn where the rain soaked through the
roof. Lightning struck a tree outside.
 #10
• The other day I saw a cat crossing the street
this particular cat was black all of the cars on
the street tried to hit the cat dodged them all
it was like magic I never saw anything like
that before I followed the cat home what do
you think happened next it went into the
woods where it promptly disappeared I was
looking for it calling here kitty kitty when I
heard a rustle in the leaves above me
suddenly I was wearing a cat hat I never
followed a cat again.
 #10
• The other day, I saw a cat crossing the street.
This particular cat was black. All of the cars
on the street tried to hit it, but the cat dodged
them all. It was like magic! I never saw
anything like that before so I followed the cat
home. What do you think happened next? It
went into the woods, where it promptly
disappeared. I looked for it, calling, “here,
kitty, kitty!” I heard a rustle in the leaves
above me; suddenly, I was wearing a cat hat!
I never followed a cat again.