FAQs

Comma splices are common grammar mistakes. Eliminating comma splices makes your writing easier to understand.

A comma splice occurs when a comma is added where a different form of punctuation is needed. This can happen when a sentence has two independent clauses separated by a comma or two verb phrases separated by a comma.

Fix a comma splice by asking yourself these questions:

1. Would the sentence be clearer as two separate sentences?
2. Does the sentence need an "and" "or" "but" or another conjunction (connecting word)?

Here is a sample sentence and its corrected versions. You may wonder if there's always one correct version. Well, there's not always! There are different ways to fix comma splices. That's where you, the writer, come into play.

Incorrect: My favorite book is The Last Black Unicorn, it is so inspiring and funny.

Correct: There are as many ways to fix a comma splice as there are writers in the world! Here are examples. 

• My favorite book is The Last Black Unicorn, and it is so inspiring and funny. (Added coordinating conjunction + comma)
• My favorite book is The Last Black Unicorn because it is so inspiring and funny. (Added subordinating conjunction)
• My favorite book is The Last Black Unicorn; it is so inspiring and funny. (Added semicolon)
• My favorite book is The Last Black Unicorn. It is so inspiring and funny. (Added period)

We do encourage you to learn how to spot and fix comma splices since editing software cannot reliably identify comma splices. Why can't software catch them? Editing software cannot "understand" the English language, rather they use math and patterns to identify possible errors and offer suggestions. Comma splices are one error that cannot be consistently identified by software.