Comma Splices and Run-Ons

There are three correct ways of joining independent clauses (making compound and compound/complex sentences)

• Sentence, coordinating conjunction sentence.
• Sentence; sentence.
• Sentence; conjunctive adverb, sentence.

Coordinating conjunctions are the FANBOYS (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so).
Conjunctive adverbs (adverb phrases) are words like therefore and however or phrases like in fact or on the other hand.

Comma Spliced and run-on (fused) sentences are incorrect ways of joining independent clauses.

• Comma-splice: Sentence, sentence. (Sentences separated by a comma only)
• Run-on: Sentencesentence. (No intervening punctuation)

ENGL1010 Composition I