Both comma splices and run-on sentences are common grammatical errors that involve incorrectly joining independent clauses. An independent clause is a group of words that can stand alone as a sentence because it contains a subject and a verb and expresses a complete thought. However, they differ in how these clauses are incorrectly joined.
A comma splice occurs when two independent clauses are joined together only by a comma. This is incorrect because a comma alone is not strong enough to connect two complete sentences.
Example: The sun was shining, the birds were singing. (Incorrect)
A run-on sentence (also known as a fused sentence) occurs when two independent clauses are joined together without any punctuation or conjunction. They are simply mashed together.
Example: The sun was shining the birds were singing. (Incorrect)
| Feature | Comma Splice | Run-on Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | Two independent clauses joined by only a comma. | Two independent clauses joined without any punctuation or conjunction. |
| Punctuation | Uses a comma (incorrectly). | Uses no punctuation at all. |
| Clarity | Slightly better than a run-on due to the presence of a comma, but still incorrect. | Can be difficult to read due to the absence of any separation. |
| Example | I went to the store, I bought some milk. | I went to the store I bought some milk. |
Here are several ways to fix these errors:
Example: I went to the store. I bought some milk.
Example: I went to the store, and I bought some milk.
Example: I went to the store; I bought some milk.
Example: Because I went to the store, I bought some milk.
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