Show:
Fused Sentences
Comma Splices
Name it CORRECTly
100
Traffic jams in major cities have gotten out of hand car pools should be mandatory.
Possible Corrections: Traffic jams in major cities have gotten out of hand, so car pool should be made mandatory. (comma and conjunction) Traffic jams in major cities have gotten out of hand; car pools should be made mandatory. (semicolon to join two dependent clauses) Because traffic jams in major cities have gotten out of hand, car pools should be made mandatory. (Turn one of the independent clauses into a dependent clause) Traffic jams in major cites have gotten out of hand. Car pools should be made mandatory. (2 separate sentences)
100
The restaurant looks tacky to me, all the tablecloths are made of plastic.
Possible Corrections: The restaurant looks tacky to me, for all the tablecloths are made of plastic. (comma and conjunction) The restaurant looks tacky to me; all the tablecloths are made of plastic. (semicolon to join two dependent clauses) The restaurant looks tacky to me because all the tablecloths are made of plastic. (Turn one of the independent clauses into a dependent clause) The restaurant looks tacky to me. All the tablecloths are made of plastic. (2 separate sentences)
100
I have good ideas I can’t put them into a sentence. Correction: I have good ideas, but I can’t put them into a sentence.
Use a comma and a coordinating conjunction to join the dependent clauses.
300
The snow needs to be shovelled get going on it right away.
Possible Corrections: The snow needs to be shovelled, so get going on it right away. (comma and conjunction) The snow needs to be shovelled; get going on it right away. (semicolon to join two dependent clauses) The snow needs to be shovelled. Get going on it right away. (2 separate sentences) Since the snow needs to be shovelled, get going on it right away. (Turn one of the independent clauses into a dependent clause)
300
The abacus is an ancient computation device, in skilful hands, it can calculate sums as quickly as most modern gadgets.
Possible Corrections: The abacus is an ancient computation device, but in skilful hands, it can calculate sums as quickly as most modern gadgets. (comma and conjunction) The abacus is an ancient computation device; however, in skilful hands, it can calculate sums as quickly as most modern gadgets. (semicolon to join two dependent clauses) Although the abacus is an ancient computation device, in skilful hands it can calculate sums as quickly as most modern gadgets. (Turn one of the independent clauses into a dependent clause) The abacus is a modern computation device. In skilful hands it can calculate sums as quickly as most modern gadgets. (2 separate sentences)
300
It is nearly half past five, we cannot reach town before dark. Correction: It is nearly half past five; we cannot reach town before dark.
Use a semicolon to join the dependent clauses
500
The elephant quit the circus he was tired of working for peanuts.
Possible Corrections: The elephant quit the circus, for he was tired of working for peanuts. (comma and conjunction) The elephant quit the circus; he was tired of working for peanuts. (semicolon to join two dependent clauses) The elephant quit the circus because he was tired of working for peanuts. (Turn one of the independent clauses into a dependent clause) The elephant quit the circus. He was tired of working for peanuts. (2 separate sentences)
500
Three-dimensional television movies have recently become popular, 3-D glasses can be purchased at most convenience stores.
Possible Corrections: Three-dimensional television movies have recently become popular, and 3-D glasses can be purchased at most convenience stores. (comma and conjunction) Three-dimensional television movies have recently become popular; 3-D glasses can be purchased at most convenience stores. (semicolon to join two dependent clauses) Because three-dimensional television movies have recently become popular, 3-D glasses can be purchased at most convenience stores. (Turn one of the independent clauses into a dependent clause) Three-dimensional television movies have recently become popular. 3-D glasses can be purchased at most convenience stores. (2 separate sentences)
500
My car is out of gas we will not reach town before dark. Correction: Since my car is out of gas, we will not reach town before dark.
Turn one of the independent clauses into a dependent clause.