Comma
Splices and Run-on Sentences
(see LBB,
chapter 36, pages 332-339)
Comma Splice:
joining two sentences together with only a comma
- Gestures are a means of
communication for everyone, they are essential for the hearing-impaired.
Run-on Sentence:
joining two sentences together without any punctuation
- Gestures are a means of
communication for everyone they are essential for the hearing-impaired.
To fix a CS or an RO:
1.)
Separate the two
sentences with a period ( . )
- Gestures are a means of
communication for everyone. They are essential for the hearing-impaired.
2.) Separate
the two sentences with a semicolon ( ; )
- Gestures are a means of
communication for everyone; they are essential for the hearing-impaired.
3.)
Use a semicolon ( ; )
+
a conjunctive adverb (however, therefore, nevertheless, furthermore,
etc.)
- Gestures are a means of
communication for everyone; however, they are essential for the
hearing-impaired.
4.)
Use a comma ( ,
) + a
coordinating conjunction (and, but, or, nor, for, so, yet)
- Gestures are a means of
communication for everyone, but they are essential for the hearing-impaired.
5.)
Turn one sentence into a
dependent clause using a subordinating conjunction (although, because,
before, if, since, unless, when, while, etc.) or a relative pronoun
(which, that, who, etc.)
- Although gestures are a
means of communication for everyone, they are essential for the
hearing-impaired.
- Gestures are a means of
communication for everyone although they are essential for the
hearing-impaired.
6.) In certain cases, you
might use a colon ( : ) -- the colon is used at
the end of one sentence to "introduce" the next sentence, which is often, but
not always, a quotation.
- He said it better than I
could: "These are the times which try men's souls."
- I was adamant about my
position: he had broken the rules and had to be reported.