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Plan Your Essay. Every essay needs a strong and clear structure, organized around an argument. The planning process is likely to be iterative for term-time essays. In an exam setting, where time is limited, it can seem like a waste of time to brainstorm and plan before beginning.
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Comma splices and fused sentences are common punctuation pattern errors that are easily corrected. A comma splice (CS) or a fused sentence (FS) occurs when two independent clauses, or two complete sentences, are incorrectly connected. Grammar Review.
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A comma splice occurs when two independent clauses (groups of words that can stand alone as sentences) are joined together by a comma. COMMA SPLICE: Lazy Lou heard that a particular machine would do half his work, he ordered two.
- What Is A Comma Splice?
- Using A Semicolon to Fix A Comma Splice
- Using A Period to Fix A Comma Splice
- Adding A Conjunction to Fix A Comma Splice
- Is A Comma Splice Ever Ok?
- Worksheet: Comma Splice Examples
A comma splice occurs when a comma is incorrectly used to join two independent clauses. This is considered a grammatical error because it can affect the clarity and flow of a sentence. To fix a comma splice, you can use a semicolon, use a period, or add a conjunction.
You can replace the comma with a semicolonwhen a logical or sequential connection between the two parts of the sentence is clear. A semicolon is similar to a period, but it suggests a closer link between the two clauses. The word appearing immediately after a semicolon should begin with a lowercase letter.
You can replace the comma with a period so that each of the independent clauses is a separate sentence. This is particularly effective when the ideas of the two clauses are distinct and the relationship between them does not need to be emphasized.
You can also fix a comma splice by retaining the comma and adding a coordinating or subordinating conjunction to one of the clauses.
While comma splices are not acceptable in formal or academic writing, they are very common in conversational contexts like text messaging, social media, and email, and nobody is likely to object to them there. They can also be used in creative writing. For example, comma splices are commonly used in fiction to emphasize the speed of a character’s s...
Test your knowledge of comma splices by using our practice worksheet below. Determine which sentences contain a comma splice.
Written by Sarah Andersen. Sentence Types and Functions. Choosing what types of sentences to use in an essay can be challenging for several reasons. The writer must consider the following questions: Are my ideas simple or complex? Do my ideas require shorter statements or longer explanations? How do I express my ideas clearly?
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What is a comma splice? Typically, when instructors tell you that you have a comma splice in your writing, what they are identifying is a single sentence that fuses two independent clauses (or two complete and separate ideas). Example: Plato establishes a virtue-based system of ethics, the virtues are requisite character traits and skills.
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What is a comma splice?
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analyse the essay question to identify exactly what is required. identify appropriate structural units in which to analyse and present the material for your essay. identify appropriate patterns for sequencing these structural units in the presentation of your essay.
