Academic Language and Learning
Comma splice errors and run on sentences
Comma splice errors
A comma splice error occurs when two complete sentences are joined together by a comma. For example:
The benefits of this kind of therapy are substantial, there are relatively few adverse side effects. (incorrect)
Comma splice errors are quite common, particularly for native speakers of English. They often result from the desire to avoid writing short sentences. A comma splice error can be fixed in different ways, depending on the length of the sentences.
- If the two sentences are quite short, it is best to join them with a conjunction (‘joining word’) such as ‘and’, ‘so’, or ‘but’, as in the following example:
The benefits of this kind of therapy are substantial, and there are relatively few adverse side effects.
- If the two sentences are quite short and they are of equal grammatical weight and value, it is best to use a semicolon.
The benefits of this kind of therapy are substantial; the adverse side effects are relatively few.
- If the two sentences are already quite long, it is better to put a full stop between and have two separate sentences.
The reported benefits of this kind of therapy are substantial, particularly when used in conjunction with more traditional approaches. There are relatively few adverse side effects and these are generally not severe.
Run on sentence
Run on sentences are the same as the comma splice errors described above, except that there is no comma placed between the two sentences. These are less frequent than comma splice errors.
e.g. The benefits of this kind of therapy are substantial there are relatively few adverse side effects.
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