What is a comma splice?

What is a comma splice, exactly?

The definition of a comma splice is a sentence where two standalone, independent clauses are connected by a comma. An independent clause is a grouping of words that feels natural and complete on its own. Look at these two examples. Which one feels complete?

• David candy.
• David loves candy.

The first example feels like something is missing (in this case, a verb). It can’t stand on its own. The second example, though, reads as complete to us. It doesn’t leave us wondering who is doing what or feeling like we’re waiting for something. This is an independent clause.

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A comma splice takes two or more independent clauses and connects (or splices) them with a comma. Here’s an example comma splice:

David loves candy, I surprised him with a box of chocolates.

In a comma splice, both sides of the comma can stand alone. In this case, “I surprised him with a box of chocolates” is an independent clause, too.

Three ways to fix a comma splice

OK: You have two independent clauses connected by a comma. Now you need to fix that error. There are three main ways to remedy a comma splice. You can decide which one to use based on the relationship between the two independent clauses. Here are your options:

• Period. You can replace the comma with a period. Now you have two separate sentences. This is the simplest fix, and it works best when you don’t need to convey a relationship between the two independent clauses.

  Period fix: David loves candy. I surprised him with a box of chocolates.

• Coordinating conjunction. Another solution is to leave the comma in and add one of the seven coordinating conjunctions after it: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so. Coordinating conjunctions are unique in that they allow us to connect two independent clauses. Notice how each of these conjunctions reveals a relationship. For instance, “but” creates a reversal while “so” shows causation.

  Coordinating conjunction fix: David loves candy, so I surprised him with a box of chocolates.

• Semicolon. If you want to imply a relationship without calling it out directly with a coordinating conjunction, you can replace the comma with a semicolon. In this case, the semicolon acts like a softer period. It says that while each side of the comma can stand alone as an independent clause, when they are linked together, they provide a deeper meaning.

  Semicolon fix: David loves candy; I surprised him with a box of chocolates.

Comma splices happen so frequently because our thoughts are naturally linked and flowing from one to the next. When we write, it may seem like we need a comma, which feels like a pause, between thoughts instead of a period, which feels like a hard stop, because our ideas are moving so quickly onto the page. Luckily, with a close proofread and the help of tools like Microsoft Editor as a comma splice checker, we can see where we have a comma splice and use one of these three fixes to make it right.

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