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contain ideas that are closely connected logically, the most effective of the three comma-splice solutions is to add a subordinating conjunction (”because”) to the first of the two clauses, making it depend on the second. For the same reason—close conceptual connection—the best solution for the next comma splice is to substitute a semicolon for the comma. The semicolon signals that the two independent clauses are closely linked in meaning. In general, you can use a semicolon where you could also use a period.

Cures for the Perpetual Comma Splicer

The comma splice is remarkably common, even among fairly sophisticated writers. It indicates two things: (1) the writer is not distinguishing between independent and dependent clauses and (2) he or she is operating on the so-called “pause theory” of punctuation. All of the clauses in our two examples are independent. As written, each of these should be punctuated not with a comma but rather with a period or a semicolon. Instead, the perpetual comma splicer, as usual, acts on the “pause theory”: because the ideas in the independent clauses are closely connected, the writer hesitates to separate them with a period. And so the writer inserts what he or she takes to be a shorter pause—the comma.

But a comma is not a “breath” mark; it provides readers with specific grammatical information, in each of these cases mistakenly suggesting there is only one independent clause separated by the comma from modifying information. In the corrections, by contrast, the semicolon sends the appropriate signal to the reader: the message that it is joining two associated but independent statements. Adding a coordinating conjunction such as “and” would also be grammatically correct, though possibly awkward. (See the discussion of independent clauses and comma rules at the opening of Chapter 18.)

Fused Sentence

The Indo-European language family includes many groups most languages in Europe belong to it.

Correction

The Indo-European language family includes many groups. Most languages in Europe belong to it. [period inserted after first independent clause]

You could also fix this fused sentence with a comma plus the coordinating conjunction “and.” Alternatively, you might condense the whole into a single independent clause.

Most languages in Europe belong to the Indo-European language family.

Comma Splices with Conjunctive Adverbs

Quantitative methods of data collection show broad trends, however, they ignore specific cases.

Sociobiology poses a threat to traditional ethics, for example, it asserts that human behavior is genetically motivated by the “selfish gene” to perpetuate itself.

Corrections

Quantitative methods of data collection show broad trends; however, they ignore specific cases. [semicolon replaces comma before “however”]

Sociobiology poses a threat to traditional ethics; for example, it asserts that human behavior is genetically motivated by the “selfish gene” to perpetuate itself. [semicolon replaces comma before “for example”]

Both of these examples contain one of the most common forms of comma splices. Both of them are compound sentences, that is, they contain two independent clauses. (See the section entitled The Compound Sentence in Chapter 18.) Normally, connecting the clauses with a comma and a conjunction would be correct; for example, “Most hawks hunt alone, but osprey hunt in pairs.” In the preceding two comma splices, however, the independent clauses are joined by transitional expressions known as conjunctive adverbs. (See the Glossary of Grammatical Terms.) When a conjunctive adverb is used to link two independent clauses, it always requires a semicolon. By contrast, when a coordinating conjunction links the two clauses of a compound sentence, it is always preceded by a comma.

In most cases, depending on the sense of the sentence, the semicolon precedes the conjunctive adverb and clarifies the division between the two clauses. There are exceptions to this general rule, though, as in the following sentence:

The lazy boy did finally read a book, however;