CGTC FAQs: Academic Support

What is a fused sentence?

A fused sentence is two or more independent clauses (An independent clause is a set of words containing a subject, verb, and complete thought.) that are not separated by a punctuation mark. Think of a fused sentence as two pipes that have been fused together with no mark showing where one pipe ends and the other one begins. 

Here is an example of a fused sentence: She likes vegetables he prefers meat. 

The first independent clause is "She likes vegetables," and the second one is "he prefers meat."

The sentence is fused because there is no punctuation mark between the two independent clauses to show us where one clause ends and the other one begins. 

How to Repair a Fused Sentence:

Repair a fused sentence by inserting the correct punctuation mark between the two independent clauses or by separating the two clauses with a comma and a coordinating conjunction (one of the FANBOYS words: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, and so). Here is an example of a fused sentence and three correctly punctuated complete sentences:

She likes vegetables he prefers meat. (missing a punctuation mark)

She likes vegetables; he prefers meat. (correctly punctuated)

She likes vegetables. He prefers meat. (correctly punctuated)

She likes vegetables, but he prefers meat. (correctly punctuated)

What is a comma splice?

A comma splice is a sentence with two or more independent clauses (Remember  that an independent clause contains a subject, verb, and complete thought.) that are incorrectly separated by a comma. Think of a comma splice as two pipes that are halfway connected and halfway separated. It's as if the pipes are dangling without a clean cut.  

Here is an example of a comma splice: She likes vegetables, he prefers meat.

The two independent clauses are "She likes vegetables" and "he prefers meat." The comma between "vegetables" and "he" might be conceptualized as a half cut and therefore doesn't work. Inserting a period or a semicolon between the two independent clauses would make the cut complete. 

How to Correct a Comma Splice:

Correct a comma splice by replacing the comma between the two independent clauses with the correct punctuation mark or by keeping the comma and following it with a coordinating conjunction (one of the FANBOYS words: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, or so). Here is an example of a comma splice and three correctly punctuated complete sentences:

She likes vegetables, he prefers meat. (incorrectly punctuated)

She likes vegetables; he prefers meat. (correctly punctuated)

She likes vegetables. He prefers meat. (correctly punctuated)

She likes vegetables, but he prefers meat. (correctly punctuated)

Notice that, in the middle two examples, there is a semicolon or a period between each set of independent clauses. Imagine that the semicolon and period represent complete cuts.