A comma splice, also called a comma fault, occurs when a comma, rather than a period, is used incorrectly between complete sentences. The word splice means "to fasten ends together, " which is a handy procedure, except when splicing has anything to do with sentences.
COMMA SPLICE:
a.) The icebergs broke off from the glacier[, ]they drifted into the sea.
A run-on sentence, also called a fused sentence and a run-together sentence, occurs when two complete sentences run into each other without any punctuation. Comma splices and run-on sentences create confusion because readers can't tell where one thought ends and another begins.
RUN-ON SENTENCE:
b.) The icebergs broke off from the glacier[ ]they drifted into the sea.
Correct for both comma spice and run-on sentences:
c.) The icebergs broke off from the glacier. They drifted into the sea.
Note: There is one exception. You can use a comma between two independent clauses, but only if the comma is followed by one of the seven coordinating conjunctions: and, but, for, or, nor, yet, so.
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