Page 18 - The Vocabulary Expander US Grades 6-8

LANGUAGE

Comma Splicing
C
plicing
omma S

Commas are used so frequently that it is possible to overuse them and put them in places
where they do not belong. One example of this is comma splicing. This is when a comma is
used to split 2 independent clauses.
It was amazing to see everyone, my cousins had grown so much.

This is technically wrong. The comma is not strong enough to split 2 independent
clauses. These can only be split with one of these options: period, semi-colon or colon.
Alternatively, a conjunction can be used to link the independent clauses.

It was amazing to see everyone; my cousins had grown so much.
It was amazing to see everyone, and my cousins had grown so much.

The last one has a comma, but it is before a coordinating conjunction which links the clauses.

A Fix these comma splices by using a FANBOYS coordinating conjunction for each one. Put
the comma before the conjunction.
1. He lived close to the beach, he swam every day.
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2. Sylvie went home early, she needed to go to an interview the next day.
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3. We could go to the theme park, we could go to the baseball game.

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B Fix these comma splices by replacing the comma with a semi-colon. This is a much stronger
piece of punctuation (like a lightweight period) and it can split independent clauses on the
same topic.

1. Dark clouds appeared on the horizon, they looked ominous.
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2. My birthday is next week, my brother’s is in June.
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3. We should go on the school trip, the hiking is meant to be amazing.
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C The third way to correct a comma splice is simply to split the independent clauses into
single, short sentences ending in periods. Look at the following passage. Some of the
commas are correct, but others need to be changed to periods. Can you spot the 3 commas
which need to be changed?

He prepares to walk the tightrope, there is tension in his feet. The soles of his feet are pressing,
pressing all his weight into the thin yellow line. It is strung between two blossom trees, it is
anchored at one end with a dark ratchet. Suddenly, the wind’s gusts swirl, swirling up the
yellow leaves below. Hearing their rustling, his heart rate quickens, he needs to breathe deeply.
High above them, his taut body sways with the balance, long arms aloft, fingers and thumbs
arced into gentle circles.

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