A comma splice is two or more independent clauses - complete sentences - joined incorrectly by a comma. It's a very common error.
To avoid this error, you must first understand what constitutes a complete sentence: a subject and a predicate. A subject is who or what a sentence is about; a noun is at its core. A predicate is what happens; a verb is at its core.
There are three basic ways to join two or more independent clauses: 1) by using a conjunction, 2) by using a semicolon, dash or colon, and 3) by making one clause dependent on the other. Another option is simply to end each sentence with a period. Here are some examples, with each independent clause underlined:
INCORRECT: Coach Petersen said the football team needed new uniforms, its old uniforms were torn and stained.
CORRECT: Coach Petersen said the football team needed new uniforms because its old uniforms were torn and stained.
CORRECT: Coach Petersen said the football team needed new uniforms; its old uniforms were stained.
INCORRECT: This homework sucks, I'd rather be eating pizza.
CORRECT: This homework sucks - I'd rather be eating pizza.
CORRECT: This homework sucks. I'd rather be eating pizza.
INCORRECT: The best way to lose weight is simple, eat less and exercise more.
CORRECT: The best way to lose weight is simple: Eat less and exercise more. (Note that when you use a colon, the beginning of the sentence that follows it is capitalized, just as it would be if you had used a period.)
INCORRECT: I'm eating less, I'm exercising more.
CORRECT: I'm eating less and I'm exercising more.
CORRECT: I'm eating less. I'm exercising more.
© Holly A. Heyser
