What is a Comma Splice?

Take notes on everything in red

Just as you SHOULD NOT use Duct Tape for everything...

…commas SHOULD NOT be used for every punctuation situation.

ALERT!!!! Can you

identify the literary concept

being used?

Today we are going to work on correcting the most common writing error, it is made often by even the most educated people! It’s a comma splice!

________________________________There are some important terms we’ll need to define before we can do this though...

A Comma Splice is created when only a comma is used to connect 2 independent clauses.*

*An independent clause is a group of words that could be written as a complete sentence (contains ONE subject and ONE Predicate).

*A dependent clause is a group of words that contain one subject and one predicate but CANNOT stand on its own: it does not complete a thought. (^)

Commas may separate:

❖Items in a series❖Adjectives❖Numbers❖Dependent clauses from

independent clauses

Items in a series

My backpack was stuffed full of books, binders, shoes, and my lunch.

Adjectives

The pretty, tall woman stood in the bright, blue room and squinted at the hot, yellow sun shining on her face.

Numbers

The town has 2,300 residents and the oldest ones are 99,88,87, and 82 years old.

Dependent clauses from independent clauses

As long as she was well caffeinated , her customer service skills were exemplary.

Commas may NOT connect 2 independent clauses

What is the problem with this sentence?

She was well caffeinated, her customer service skills were exemplary.

Think of a comma as a piece of tape

Commas are good at holding small things together like single words but... ...

…independent clauses are very important and need something bigger than a comma to join them

4 super glue“Fixes” stronger than duct tape:

Semicolon Use a semicolon

…

1. To join 2 independent clauses if the 2 clauses are related.

HINT: DO NOT use FANBOYS with semicolons.

Semicolons hate FANBOYS and will beat them up if they’re too close.

Period

Use a period …

1. To separate 2 independent clauses

2. At the end of a complete sentence

Coordinating Conjunctions or FANBOYS

FANBOYS introduce or join independent clauses

Common Subordinating Conjunctions

• Sub = beneath or less important• Subordinating conjunctions connect

independent clauses to dependent clause

afteralthoughasbecausebeforeEvenifin order that

oncesinceso thatthanthatthoughunless

untilwhenwherewhetherwhilewhy

Review: 4 “Fixes” Stronger than duct tape:

1. ; Semi-colon2. . Period

3. Coordinating Conjunctions or FANBOYS

4. Subordinating Conjunctions (If, Because, When, etc...) (^)

Question: What is a Comma Splice?

Answer: Using a comma to connect two independent clauses.

A common splice is wrong because a comma is not “strong enough” to hold two independent clauses together.

Use each method once to fix the 5 comma spliced sentences in your handout.

1) ; Semi-colon2) . Period3) Coordinating Conjunctions/FANBOYS 4) Subordinating Conjunctions

(If, Because, When, After, etc...) (^)

Exit Slip

1. What is a Comma Splice?

2. List 2 ways you can fix a Comma Splice.

What is a sentence fragment?

Take notes on everything in red

❖A sentence communicates a complete thought.

❖A fragment is just a group of words that lacks enough information to complete a thought.

Cool.At the party.

We write sentence fragments because we often speak in sentence fragments!

❏ When we answer a question:Q: “What are you doing?”A: “Eating.”

❏ When we give a command:“No headphones!”, “No running!”

How to fix a sentence fragment

❖Add information

❖ Rewrite the sentence- this may be as simple as removing or adding a single word !

In order to make the sentence a complete thought…

1. After leaving the mall.

2. What pet dander?

3. Even though you learned this in 5th grade.

4. Romeo and Juliet, though desperately in love.

Fragments

Directions: “Fixing Fragments” Handout Place an “C” on the line before each

number IF it is a complete sentence.

Place an “F” IF it is a fragment of a sentence.

Correct each fragment by adding information or rewriting in the space provided.

Each correction should be a complete sentence! (^)

Part 2: Run-on or “fused” sentences

Run-on Sentences are...

…2 independent clauses, each of which could be a sentence on its own, joined together without adequate punctuation and/or conjunctions.

Examples of run-on sentences1. They are not just really long

sentences those are called rambling sentences.

2. Grammar is confusing it is also important.

3. Mrs. Asfour makes learning grammar fun her students just won’t admit it.

With your elbow partner, fix the run-on sentence below using 2 different “fixes” that we learned yesterday and jot down what “tools” you used.

Did you use any of the following “tools”?

1) : Colon2) ; Semi-colon3) . Period4) Coordinating Conjunctions or FANBOYS

5) Subordinating Conjunctions (If, Because, When, After, etc...)

Time to Practice! (see handout 209-210

Sentences 1-10)

❏ Write “RO” on the line before each run-on sentence and insert the punctuation and/or conjunctions that will correct the sentences. You may have to change capitalization as well. Some sentences require TWO punctuation corrections.

❏ If the sentence is correct, write “C” on the blank.

Exit Slip

In your own words, define:1. sentence fragment2. run-on sentence