comma splices, take 2

Comma SplicesComma Splices andand

Fused SentencesFused Sentences

Comma SplicesComma Splices andand

Fused SentencesFused Sentences

Know how to identify these two Know how to identify these two majormajor problems. problems.Know how to identify these two Know how to identify these two majormajor problems. problems.

A A comma splicecomma splice looks like this: looks like this:

Main clauseMain clauseMain clauseMain clause main clause.main clause.main clause.main clause.

Main clauseMain clauseMain clauseMain clause main clause.main clause.main clause.main clause.

+ + ,, + +

A A fused sentencefused sentence looks like this: looks like this:

+ + ØØ + +

Recognize a main Recognize a main clause when you see clause when you see

one:one:subjectsubject + + verbverb = =

complete thoughtcomplete thought..

Recognize a main Recognize a main clause when you see clause when you see

one:one:subjectsubject + + verbverb = =

complete thoughtcomplete thought..

In an important piece of writing, both of In an important piece of writing, both of these sentence errors = these sentence errors = In an important piece of writing, both of In an important piece of writing, both of these sentence errors = these sentence errors =

D E A T H ! ! !D E A T H ! ! !

Read this sample sentence:Read this sample sentence:Read this sample sentence:Read this sample sentence:

Grandma still rides her Harley

motorcycle her toy poodle balances

in a basket between the handlebars.


motorcycle her toy poodle balances


Adding a comma won’t help, sweetheart. It will

just make a comma splice, an equally

terrible error.

Adding a comma won’t help, sweetheart. It will

just make a comma splice, an equally

terrible error.

The error is The error is here!here!

The error is The error is here!here!

Come on, Princess

Let’s take a

ride to the solutions!

Come on, Princess

Let’s take a

ride to the solutions!

Option 1:Option 1: Fix the error with a Fix the error with a periodperiod and a and a capital lettercapital letter..Option 1:Option 1: Fix the error with a Fix the error with a periodperiod and a and a capital lettercapital letter..


motorcycle her toy poodle

balances in a basket between

the handlebars.




the handlebars.

motorcycle. Her

Let’s fix the errors that

follow! Use a period and a capital letter.

Let’s fix the errors that

follow! Use a period and a capital letter.

1. While Oreo gnawed the corner

of a shoe, Skeeter shredded a

roll of toilet paper, the dogs

love when we have forgotten to

close the master bedroom

door.

1. While Oreo gnawed the corner

of a shoe, Skeeter shredded a

roll of toilet paper, the dogs

love when we have forgotten to

close the master bedroom

door.

roll of toilet paper. The dogs

2. A bucket catches water under

the leaky ceiling, Annette

wishes she had trimmed the

big oak tree before the rotten

limb crashed through the roof.

2. A bucket catches water under

the leaky ceiling, Annette

wishes she had trimmed the

big oak tree before the rotten

limb crashed through the roof.

the leaky ceiling. Annette

3. Freddie’s car is a mess, she

has overdue library books piled

on the front seat, and she uses

the floor as a trashcan for her

frequent lunches at fast food

restaurants.

3. Freddie’s car is a mess, she

has overdue library books piled

on the front seat, and she uses

the floor as a trashcan for her

frequent lunches at fast food

restaurants.

Freddie’s car is a mess. She

4. On a busy Saturday night,

Andre sweated in the hot

restaurant kitchen as he

assembled pizzas, he

dreamed of one day having

his own cooking show on the

Food Network.

4. On a busy Saturday night,

Andre sweated in the hot

restaurant kitchen as he

assembled pizzas, he

dreamed of one day having

his own cooking show on the

Food Network.

assembled pizzas. He

Option 2:Option 2: Fix the error with a Fix the error with a comma and a coordinating comma and a coordinating conjunction: conjunction: andand, , butbut, , forfor, , nornor, , oror, , soso, or , or yetyet..

Option 2:Option 2: Fix the error with a Fix the error with a comma and a coordinating comma and a coordinating conjunction: conjunction: andand, , butbut, , forfor, , nornor, , oror, , soso, or , or yetyet..




the handlebars.

motorcycle, and her toy poodle

Let’s try some! Use and, but,

for, nor, or, so, or yet to fix the

errors that follow.

Let’s try some! Use and, but,

for, nor, or, so, or yet to fix the

errors that follow.

1. Darren scooped seven

tablespoons of sugar into his

coffee, then he splashed

cream into the cup and stirred

the concoction.

1. Darren scooped seven

tablespoons of sugar into his

coffee, then he splashed

cream into the cup and stirred

the concoction.

coffee, and then he poured

2. We suspected that Tahoe had

tipped over the trash he

flattened his ears and curled

his tail between his legs as we

cleaned the kitchen floor.

2. We suspected that Tahoe had

tipped over the trash he

flattened his ears and curled

his tail between his legs as we

cleaned the kitchen floor.

tipped over the trash, for he

3. Lawana planted the bare

backyard with an assortment of

flowers, butterflies began to

visit, sipping nectar from the

blooms.

3. Lawana planted the bare

backyard with an assortment of

flowers, butterflies began to

visit, sipping nectar from the

blooms.

flowers, so butterflies began to

4. Serena searched every

corner of her bedroom she

could not find her math book

to study for the final exam.

4. Serena searched every

corner of her bedroom she

could not find her math book

to study for the final exam.

corner of her bedroom, but she

Option 3:Option 3: Fix the error with Fix the error with a a semicolonsemicolon ( (;;).).Option 3:Option 3: Fix the error with Fix the error with a a semicolonsemicolon ( (;;).).

Use sparingly—three or four times per Use sparingly—three or four times per essay.essay.

Don’t capitalize after the semicolon Don’t capitalize after the semicolon unless the word is a unless the word is a proper nounproper noun, one , one that is that is alwaysalways capitalized. capitalized.

When you are writing When you are writing by handby hand, make , make sure that the semicolon has good sure that the semicolon has good postureposture. Locate the dot right above the . Locate the dot right above the comma.comma.




the handlebars.




the handlebars.

motorcycle; her

Look at our sample:Look at our sample:Look at our sample:Look at our sample:

Try to fix the errors that follow—this time with

semicolons!

Try to fix the errors that follow—this time with

semicolons!

1. Smoke billowed from the hot

grill plump pork chops lay on a

plate, waiting for Uncle Rick to

cook them.

1. Smoke billowed from the hot

grill plump pork chops lay on a

plate, waiting for Uncle Rick to

cook them.

grill; plump pork chops lay on a

2. Laurie flashed a big smile we

cringed at the spinach stuck to

her front tooth.

2. Laurie flashed a big smile we

cringed at the spinach stuck to

her front tooth.

Laurie flashed a big smile; we

3. Jiggling his foot, Carlos sat in

the waiting room, he dreaded

the shot of Novocain and

whining drill required to fill his

cavity.

3. Jiggling his foot, Carlos sat in

the waiting room, he dreaded

the shot of Novocain and

whining drill required to fill his

cavity.

the waiting room; he dreaded

4. Pushing and grunting, Tyrone

tried to budge the heavy

refrigerator, finally he decided

just to paint around it, leaving

a square of dirty beige that he

alone knew existed.

4. Pushing and grunting, Tyrone

tried to budge the heavy

refrigerator, finally he decided

just to paint around it, leaving

a square of dirty beige that he

alone knew existed.

refrigerator; finally he decided

Option 4:Option 4: Fix the error with a Fix the error with a subordinate conjunctionsubordinate conjunction..Option 4:Option 4: Fix the error with a Fix the error with a subordinate conjunctionsubordinate conjunction..

afterafter althoughalthough asas becausebecause beforebefore even thougheven though if, even ifif, even if in order thatin order that onceonce provided thatprovided that

sincesince so [so [thatthat implied], so that implied], so that thanthan thatthat thoughthough unlessunless when, wheneverwhen, whenever where, wherever, whereaswhere, wherever, whereas whetherwhether whilewhile

Grandma rides her Harley



the handlebars.

Grandma rides her Harley



the handlebars.

motorcycle while her toy poodle


Know these Know these generalgeneral punctuation punctuation rules when using rules when using subordinationsubordination..Know these Know these generalgeneral punctuation punctuation rules when using rules when using subordinationsubordination..

Subordinate clauseSubordinate clauseSubordinate clauseSubordinate clause + + ,, + + main clause.main clause.main clause.main clause.

Main clauseMain clauseMain clauseMain clause + + Ø +Ø + subordinate clause.subordinate clause.subordinate clause.subordinate clause.

For exceptions to these rules, see Comma Tip 5 !For exceptions to these rules, see Comma Tip 5 !

http://chompchomp.com/handouts/commatip05.pdf

http://chompchomp.com/handouts/commatip05.pdf

When Grandma rides her Harley

motorcycle, her toy poodle balances


When Grandma rides her Harley

motorcycle, her toy poodle balances



Grandma rides her Harley motorcycle

as her toy poodle balances in a

basket between the handlebars.

Grandma rides her Harley motorcycle

as her toy poodle balances in a

basket between the handlebars.

Let’s try fixing some with

subordinate conjunctions!

Let’s try fixing some with

subordinate conjunctions!

1. Jeff licked the soft serve

cone, he tried to keep up

with the melting ice cream.

1. Jeff licked the soft serve

cone, he tried to keep up

with the melting ice cream.

cone as he tried to keep up


2. Nathan rudely slurped the

spicy soup, Maybelle began

loudly crunching tortilla chips.

2. Nathan rudely slurped the

spicy soup, Maybelle began

loudly crunching tortilla chips.

Since Nathan rudely slurped the

main clause.main clause.main clause.main clause.+ + ,, + +Subordinate clauseSubordinate clauseSubordinate clauseSubordinate clause

,

3. Harold held his hand under

the cold water he burnt

his fingers trying to remove

the brownies without an

oven mitt.

3. Harold held his hand under

the cold water he burnt

his fingers trying to remove

the brownies without an

oven mitt.

the cold water after he burnt


4. The flowers were wilting in

the sun, they waited for rain

or the cool spray from the

sprinklers.

4. The flowers were wilting in

the sun, they waited for rain

or the cool spray from the

sprinklers.

As the flowers were wilting in

main clause.main clause.main clause.main clause.+ + ,, + +Subordinate clauseSubordinate clauseSubordinate clauseSubordinate clause

,

Quick TestQuick TestQuick TestQuick TestDirections:Directions: Find and fix all of the Find and fix all of the comma splices and fused sentences comma splices and fused sentences in the items that follow.in the items that follow.

1. I went into the bathroom last

night, I heard someone

singing in Spanish.

1. I went into the bathroom last

night, I heard someone

singing in Spanish.

night. I heard someonenight, for I heard someonenight; I heard someonenight because I heard someone

2. Surprised, I turned on the

lights, what idiot was making

noise in my bathroom so late

at night?

2. Surprised, I turned on the

lights, what idiot was making

noise in my bathroom so late

at night?

lights. What

3. I looked everywhere—behind

the door, in the closet, under

the bathroom sink—but I

couldn't find the source of the

music, the singing was

really weird.

3. I looked everywhere—behind

the door, in the closet, under

the bathroom sink—but I

couldn't find the source of the

music, the singing was

really weird.

music, and the singing was

4. I listened closely, the singing

seemed to be coming from

the window above the

bathtub, so I stuck my head

around the shower curtain

and looked in all of the

corners.

4. I listened closely, the singing

seemed to be coming from

the window above the

bathtub, so I stuck my head

around the shower curtain

and looked in all of the

corners.

closely. The singing

5. It was unbelievable, there

was a spider spinning a web

behind my shampoo

bottles all the while she was

singing Spanish love songs.

5. It was unbelievable, there

was a spider spinning a web

behind my shampoo

bottles all the while she was

singing Spanish love songs.

unbelievable. There

bottles; all the while, she was

6. When the spider saw me

staring at her, she said,

"Yeek," I wasn't used to

spiders squeaking in surprise

at me in my own bathroom.

6. When the spider saw me

staring at her, she said,

"Yeek," I wasn't used to

spiders squeaking in surprise

at me in my own bathroom.

“Yeek!” I wasn’t used to Yeek!Yeek!

7. When the spider realized I

was a human being, she

crouched further behind the

shampoo bottle I, on the

other hand, went to get a

can of Raid.

7. When the spider realized I

was a human being, she

crouched further behind the

shampoo bottle I, on the

other hand, went to get a

can of Raid.

shampoo bottle. I, on the

8. When I returned with the

can of Raid, I pointed it at

the poor spider, wishing for

her death, she, as a result,

started singing even more

beautifully.

8. When I returned with the

can of Raid, I pointed it at

the poor spider, wishing for

her death, she, as a result,

started singing even more

beautifully.

her death. She, as a result,

9. Did I really want to hurt this

poor creature who sang

such beautiful Spanish love

songs, did I really want to

poison her and cause her to

die a slow death behind the

shampoo bottle?

9. Did I really want to hurt this

poor creature who sang

such beautiful Spanish love

songs, did I really want to

poison her and cause her to

die a slow death behind the

shampoo bottle?

songs? Did I really want to

10.This spider was frightful looking,

for she had long hairy legs,

bulging eyes, and terrible

pinching jaws, but I decided that

if she would continue singing in

her beautiful manner, I would let

her live on the bathroom window

ledge.

10.This spider was frightful looking,

for she had long hairy legs,

bulging eyes, and terrible

pinching jaws, but I decided that

if she would continue singing in

her beautiful manner, I would let

her live on the bathroom window

ledge.

Correct!Correct!

11. Every morning since that

surprising evening, I listen

to my singing spider, who

continues to live behind the

shampoo bottle.

11. Every morning since that

surprising evening, I listen

to my singing spider, who

continues to live behind the

shampoo bottle.

Correct Correct againagain!!¡Azucar!¡Azucar!

12. I brush my teeth to the melodic

voice of a very talented

arachnid, my spider eats

whatever unlucky flies get

trapped in the house, I've

learned to think before I spray

Raid.

12. I brush my teeth to the melodic

voice of a very talented

arachnid, my spider eats

whatever unlucky flies get

trapped in the house, I've

learned to think before I spray

Raid.

house. I’ve

arachnid while my spider eats

The End.The End.The End.The End.

Be kind to spiders!

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Be kind to spiders!

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comma splices, take 2

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