Comma splice
A comma splice is committed when two independent sentences are joined by a comma, such as the following (incorrect) sentence:
- It is nearly half past five, we cannot reach town before dark.
The proper punctuation here is the semicolon:
- It is nearly half past five; we cannot reach town before dark.
Commas are sometimes acceptable when the clauses are short and alike in form, such as
- The gate swung apart, the bridge fell, the portcullis was drawn up.
(Examples from the online 1918 edition of The Elements of Style.)
However, do not use a comma and a conjunction to connect independent and dependent clauses.
- The ball hit George and knocked off his glasses.
Not:
- The ball hit George, and knocked off his glasses.
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