To edit for comma splices
- check for clauses on either side of a comma
- check whether those clauses can stand alone as complete sentences.
Step 1: First, read the writing on either side of the comma to check for clauses.
Example: The fire alarm went off, we left the building.
Clause 1: The fire alarm went off
Clause 2: we left the building.
Step 2: Second, check whether both clauses connected by the comma can stand alone as a complete sentence.
The fire alarm went off, we left the building.
In this example,
The fire alarm went off can stand alone as a complete sentence.
We left the building can stand alone as a complete sentence.
If the clauses can stand alone as complete sentences, connecting them with just a comma makes a comma splice. Because both clauses in the example sentence can stand alone and are connected by just a comma, this sentence has a comma splice.
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