Writing Center Tutorial - Grammar

Comma Splices

To splice is to fasten together. A comma splice (CS) occurs when a comma (alon is used to fasten together two independent clauses. This is incorrect punctuation.

Example:
The Sandia Mountains are east of Albuquerque, they rise 10,000 feet above sea level.
[A comma alone cannot connect two independent clauses.]

There are four primary ways to correct a comma splice:

1. Use a period to make two complete sentences.
   

   Example: The Sandia Mountains are east of Albuquerque. They rise 10,000 feet above sea level.

2. Use a semicolon to join the two independent clauses.
   

   Example: The Sandia Mountains are east of Albuquerque; they rise 10,000 feet above sea level.

3. Use a comma plus a coordinating conjunction such as and, but, or, nor, yet.
   

   Example: The Sandia Mountains are east of Albuquerque, and they rise 10,000 feet above sea level.

4. Make one clause subordinate or dependent.
   

   Example: The mountains which are east of Albuquerque rise 10,000 feel above sea level.

Subordinating Conjunctions

Subordinating conjunctions can also be used to make a clause dependent when one idea can be logically subordinated to the other.

Example:
According to a forest service brochure, spruce and fir trees grow at the crest, aspens and oaks grow at slightly lower elevations.

Correction:
According to a forest service brochure, even though spruce and fir trees grow at the crest, aspens and oaks grow at slightly lower elevations.
('even though' is a subordinating conjunction that shows contrast)

Other subordinating conjunctions include: after, although, as, as far as, because, before, if, if only, in order that, since, unless, whenever, and whether.

Recognizing comma splices in your work requires identifying independent and dependent clause.