Course: English writing skills BBA-1 Instructor: Farhana Aziz

AA comma splice is simply a sentence in which a comma is called on to do more than is appropriate. When a sentence contains two independent clauses — each of which could essentially stand on its own — separated by a comma. E.g: II know what to do, I just don’t know how to do it. Correct: II know what to do but I just don’t know how to do it. OR I know what to do. I just don’t know how to do it.

 When a sentence contains two independent clauses — each of which could essentially stand on its own — not separated by a comma or by nothing at all. It is also called run-on sentence. E.g:  I know what to do I just don’t know how to do it. Correct:  I know what to do however, I just don’t know how to do it. OR  I know what to do. I just don’t know how to do it.

 Divide the sentence into two (and set “Of course” off with a comma as well):  E.g: “Of course not all companies will survive, it is our goal to give the investing public accurate information on all companies.”  “Of course, not all companies will survive. It is our goal to give the investing public accurate information on all companies.”

 Insert a coordinating conjunction to join the clause with the other one.  Use words like And, for, nor, yet, but, or, so etc to join two sentences. E.g: “At times, it resembled the pitch of a whirring blender, at other moments, an angelic choir.”  Correct: “At times, it resembled the pitch of a whirring blender, and at other moments, an angelic choir.” (The final comma and the phrase “an angelic choir” are correct;”)

 Insert a subordinating conjunction to convert either clause into a subordinate clause (one that depends on the other to be the main clause):  Use while, infact, instead, because, as soon as, since, although etc to join two sentences and make the other one subordinate. E.g:  “Some buildings hearken back to Main Street, USA, others offer strip-mall modernism.”  Correct: “Some buildings hearken back to Main Street, USA, while others offer strip mall modernism.” (While could, alternatively, begin the sentence.)

 Separate the independent clauses with a semicolon and add a conjunctive adverb. The semicolon will tell the reader that the ideas in the two sentences are closely connected, and the conjunctive adverb describes the connection. E.g:  He doesn’t need the map right now, he just follows the direction kim pointed out to him.  Correct: He doesn’t need the map right now; instead, he just follows the direction kim pointed out to him.

 Eliminating the subject and verb will turn the second clause into a modifying phrase. Thus closely connecting the ideas. E.g:  At high noon we were off paddling down the Potomac River, we were two to a canoe with a gear in the middle.  Correct: At high noon we were off paddling down the Potomac River, two to a canoe with a gear in the middle.

 Because her mood was good, I took the opportunity to ask if she had a few minutes to answer some questions.  Her mood was good, that’s why / so I took the opportunity to ask if she had a few minutes to answer some questions.  Her mood was good; I took the opportunity to ask if she had a few minutes to answer some questions.  Her mood was good, taking the opportunity to ask if she had a few minutes to answer some questions.  Her mood was good. I took the opportunity to ask if she had a few minutes to answer some questions.

 A fragment is either an incomplete sentence lacking a subject or predicate, or a dependent clause punctuated as a sentence.  Even though fragment begins with a capital letter and ends with a period, it cannot stand alone as a sentence. E.g:  Tonight its my turn. A ride-along with Sergent Rob of the Green valley police dept.  Tonight its my turn for a ride-along with Sergent Rob of the Green Valley Police Dept.

Making the other clause subordinate:  Frank turned the cards one at a time. Each time telling me something about my future.  Frank turned the cards one at a time each time telling me something about my future. Making both clauses independent:  The world that I was born into demanded continuous work. Where nobody got ahead, and everyone came home tired.  The world that I was born into demanded continuous work. Nobody got ahead, and everyone came home tired.

Add subject to the other clause to make it complete:  The crowd in the lounge is basically young.The teenage and early twenties generation.  The crowd in the lounge is basically young.The teenage and early twenties generation gathers together. Leave the fragment as it is to create special effect:  The bare utility of the clock echoes the simplicity of the office. No sign of a large hardwood desk or a pillowy leather chair or even a wall with shelves filled with imposing law books.

PPLEASE PPRACTICE, PPRACTICE & PPRACTICE

Enough for the day.