The comma splice, a common grammar mistake found in writing, occurs when two independent clauses are strung together with only a comma in between. Here is an example of a comma splice:
Today is sunny, I will take a bike ride.
Each of these thoughts is an independent clause, yet the writer used only a comma to join them together. Anytime you join two independent clauses, you must use a comma with coordinating conjunction or a semicolon. Look at these corrections for the comma splice sentence above:
Today is sunny, so I will take a bike ride.
Today is sunny; I will take a bike ride.
Avoid a comma splice. Use a coordinating conjunction – one of the FANBOYS – with the comma to join two independent clauses into a compound sentence. You can also use a semicolon to join two independent clauses together.
It’s your turn. This sentence shows a comma splice. It is cold, you need a jacket. Can you add a coordinating conjunction with the comma to make a compound sentence? Good for you!