by Brenda Dupas, MLS
 

According to The Elements of Grammar by Margaret Shertzer, grammar may be defined "as a system of rules for the use of language, or as a study of what is preferred and what is to be avoided in effective speech and writing."

Unfortunately, remembering all the rules can be a rather daunting task and consulting authoritative grammar handbooks becomes a necessity. Since many writers have difficulties with "run-on sentences," this post will address the topic of fused sentences and comma splices.
 

More commonly known as "run-on sentences," fused sentences and comma splices are independent clauses that are incorrectly joined. An independent clause is a group of words that can stand on its own as a sentence. When two independent clauses appear in the same sentence, they must be joined in one of the following ways:

1. with a comma and a coordinating conjunction (and, but, or, nor, for, so, yet)

2. with a semicolon (or occasionally a colon or a dash)

According to Strunk and White's The Elements of Style, there is an exception to the above grammar rule. It states that a comma is preferable when the clauses are very short and alike in form, or when the tone of the sentence is easy and conversational. They offer the following examples:

Man proposes, God disposes.

The gates swung apart, the bridge fell, the portcullis was drawn up.

I hardly knew him, he was so changed.

When there is no punctuation mark and no coordinating conjunction between independent clauses, the result is a fused sentence. The following is an example:

I would like to pursue a career in journalism I am taking a course in English Grammar and Composition.

When independent clauses are joined by a comma without an accompanying coordinating conjunction, the result is a comma splice. The following are examples:

I would like to pursue a career in journalism, I am taking a course in English Grammar and Composition.

I would like to pursue a career in journalism, therefore, I am taking a course in English Grammar and Composition.

In the second example, "therefore" is a conjunctive adverb, not a coordinating conjunction. It must be preceded by a semicolon.

1. Use a comma and a coordinating conjunction (and, but, or, nor, for, so, yet). For example:

I would like to pursue a career in journalism, and I am taking a course in English Grammar and Composition.

2. Use a semicolon (or, if appropriate, a colon or a dash). A semicolon may be used alone; it can also be accompanied by a conjunctive adverb or transitional phrase. For example:

I would like to pursue a career in journalism; I am taking a course in English Grammar and Composition.

I would like to pursue a career in journalism; therefore, I am taking a course in English Grammar and Composition.

3. Make the clauses into separate sentences. For example:

I would like to pursue a career in journalism. I am taking a course in English Grammar and Composition.

4. Restructure the sentence. For example:

As I would like to pursue a career in journalism, I am taking a course in English Grammar and Composition.

Keep in mind that if you are writing a sentence with two short independent clauses and there is no danger of misreading, the comma may be omitted before the coordinating conjunction. For example:

The car drove up and I got in.