Chapter 6 of 10All chapters
Chapter 6 of 10
Joining clauses
Splices, fragments and run-ons.
The three errors
A comma splice joins two sentences with only a comma. A run-on joins them with nothing. A fragment is a piece that cannot stand alone.
- Fix a splice with a full stop, a semicolon, or a comma plus and, but or so.
- However is not a joining word: it needs a semicolon or a new sentence.
Deliberate fragments
Fragments work in informal and stylistic writing. In formal writing they read as mistakes unless the surrounding style clearly signals intent.