Comma splices happen when you connect two complete sentences with just a comma. It’s super common. Even experienced writers do it! The good news is that it’s easy to spot and even easier to fix once you know how.
Here’s an example of a comma splice:
Ringo the Patrol Pony visited our classroom today, everyone wanted a selfie.
Three simple ways to fix it:
- Add a conjunction:
Ringo visited our classroom today, and everyone wanted a selfie. - Use a semicolon:
Ringo visited our classroom today; everyone wanted a selfie. - Split into two sentences:
Ringo visited our classroom today. Everyone wanted a selfie.
If you want a quick, clear explanation with a few laughs, check out this short video, which focuses on Texas A&M’s mascot Miss Rev:
Bonus Tip: Read your sentence out loud. If you naturally pause or stop, that’s a clue you might need a semicolon, a period, or a conjunction!