Name ______Pd. _____
Revising Commas Splices
Commas splice (CS): A comma splice occurs when two independent clauses (IC) are
joined by only a comma.
Comma splice: IC, IC.
Example: We hiked for three weeks, we were very tired. ß INCORRECT
Easy Ways to Correct Comma Splices:
1. Change the comma to a period and capitalize the next word. (IC. IC.)
Correct: We hiked for three weeks. We were very tired.
2. Change the comma to a semicolon. (IC; IC.)
Correct: We hiked for three weeks; we were very tired.
3. Add a coordinating conjunction before the second independent clause.
Coordinating conjunctions (CC): and, or, but, nor, for, so, yet. (IC, CC IC)
Correct: We hiked for three weeks, so we were very tired
Caution: Don't simply delete the comma; this will create a run-on or fused sentence.
Exercise 1
Directions: For each sentence below, write CS if the sentence is a comma splice or C if the sentence is correct. Fix any comma splices using one of the methods from above.
______1. Every year I make New Year's resolutions, for example, I will try to drink more
water.
______2. Every year, however, I seem to fail at my resolutions.
______3. I did not want to fail this year, consequently, I changed my resolution.
______4. I finally understood that goals needed to be specific, so I modified my goal.
______5. This year I will drink four glasses of water every day, this goal is specific and
measurable.
______6. While this is a measurable goal, however, four glasses of water a day is not
sufficient.
______7. I don't care, at least this year I will be successful.
______8. Geoffrey broke his wrist by falling from a seesaw, he broke his arm by falling from
a ladder.
______9. The seesaw accident was not his fault, however, he should not have been on the
ladder.
______10. He was supposed to be watching his little sister, instead he was hanging lights for
an end-of-year party.