What is a Comma Splice?

The comma splice is the most common type of run-on sentence. It is composed of two or more independent clauses joined together by a comma without the coordinating conjunction. There are seven coordinating conjunctions in English: and, but, or, nor, for, so, yet.

Great team players are essential to winning championships, the 49ers had several team players during the 90's.

Comma splices also contain a joining word that is not a coordinating conjunction. In the following example, thus is a conjunctive adverb joining two independent clauses. When a conjunctive adverb joins two or more independent clauses, the clauses must be separated with a semicolon.

Great team players are essential to winning championships, thus the 49ers had several team players during the 90's.

Correcting Comma Splices

Use a comma and a coordinating conjunction:
- Great team players are essential to winning championships, and the 49ers had several team players during the 90's.
Use a semicolon, a colon, or a dash:
- Great team players are essential to winning championships; the 49ers had several team players during the 90's.
Make the clauses into separate sentences:
- Great team players are essential to winning championships. The 49ers had several team players during the 90's.
Restructure the sentence by subordinating one of the clauses. This requires the most extensive revision, but yields the best results.
- Great team players are essential to winning championships, and during the 90's team players contributed to the 49ers' two super bowl victories.

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