Joining and separating clauses

Separate 2 independent clauses

• Period/semi-colon

• Comma + coordinating conjunction

• Colon or dash

Phrases starting with these usually appear incorrectly at the end of the sentence but must be placed following the sentence

• Prepositional phrases

• -ing (participial) phrase

• Subordinating conjunction

Period/Semi-colon

• Grammatically identical

• “strong” transitions = however, therefore, although, consequently, moreover, nevertheless

  • Follow period or semi-colon, never a comma

Comma + subordinating conjunction

• Complete sentence

• Use without comma = run on

• Cannot be used after period or semi-colon

• Comma not used if both clauses have the same subject

  • To check: replace comma + and with period and see if both sentences are complete

  • If statement after period = incomplete, comma not used before and

Colon/Dash

• Grammatically identical

• Separates 2 independent clauses when second clause explains or describes a result of the first

• Cannot be used otherwise

Comma splice

• 2 independent clauses separated by comma

• Always wrong

1. Pronoun as a subject

   1. Pronouns can replace subjects and be its own sentence

   2. Comma splice is signaled by comma + pronoun in answer choices

   3. Must be replaced with period or semi-colon

2. Adverb at start of clause

   1. Conjunctive adverbs (transitions) and time words (ex: today) = after period or semi-colon

   2. Only comma = comma splice