the.com/comma splice
Two complete sentences, one comma playing peacemaker, grammar teacher weeping quietly.
means The error of joining two independent clauses with only a comma instead of a period, semicolon, or conjunction.
from A straightforward compound: 'comma' from Greek komma (a piece cut off, a short clause) plus 'splice,' a word borrowed from rope-work meaning to join two ends together by weaving strands rather than tying them. The term describes exactly the sin it names — using a comma to splice two ropes (sentences) that really needed a stronger knot.
- the fix
- swap comma for period, semicolon, or conjunction
- famous offender
- many published novelists use it stylistically
- technical term
- independent clauses joined without proper connector
- semicolon's revenge
- this is the error semicolons exist to prevent