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Comma Splices

Comma Splices. How to use a semi-colon correctly. To splice is to join or weave together…. Electricians often join two shorter wires by forming a splice to create a longer wire.

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Comma Splices

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  1. Comma Splices How to use a semi-colon correctly

  2. To splice is to join or weave together…. • Electricians often join two shorter wires by forming a splice to create a longer wire.

  3. Sometimes, writers try to tie two complete ideas together by using a comma to splice the sentences (independent clauses) into one longer sentence. • Macbeth faced temptation • he decided to kill Duncan to become King. • Macbeth faced temptation, he decided to kill Duncan to become King.

  4. This creates… a Comma Splice. Macbeth faced temptation, he decided to kill Duncan to become King.

  5. To correctly join the two independent clauses: • Use a period between the two complete sentences. • Macbeth faced temptation. He decided to kill Duncan to become King.

  6. 2. Use a comma + a conjunction (and, or, but, so) • Macbeth faced temptation, and he decided to kill Duncan to become King. • Macbeth faced temptation, so he decided to kill Duncan to become King.

  7. 3. If the two sentences are very closely related, a writer may use a semi-colon to join them. A transitional word and comma is sometimes added. • Macbeth faced temptation; he decided to kill Duncan to become King. • Macbeth faced temptation; therefore, he decided to kill Duncan to become King.

  8. The semi-colon • A semi-colon is a stop in a sentence. • It is a longer stop than a comma, • but shorter than a full stop, like a period.

  9. To correctly use a semi-colon: You must have: • two complete sentences (independent clauses)… 2. that are closely related.

  10. I went to the grocery store. This is a complete sentence. I got milk while I was there. This is a complete sentence. They are closely related. I went to the grocery store;I got milk while I was there.

  11. If you’re not sure how to use a semi-colon correctly, You’re never wrong to create two complete sentences separated by a period.

  12. I went to the grocery store. I got milk.

  13. But, try to avoid the choppy, Dick-and-Jane sentences; try for a smoother style.

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