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Comma splices are caused by connecting two sentences with a comma. The independent clauses in the next example are incorrectly connected by a comma.
Botulism requires immediate medical attention, the disease can be fatal.
The sentences can be correctly separated by a period.
Botulism requires immediate medical attention. The disease can be fatal.
However, if the clauses should be connected because the ideas are closely related and of equal importance, a writer can choose one of three ways to do it:
1. Two independent clauses can be connected by a coordinate conjunction (and, but, or, nor, for, so, yet) that is preceded by a comma. The coordinate conjunction expresses the relationship between the two clauses. The ideas in the independent clauses must be of equal importance.
EXAMPLES
Botulism requires immediate medical attention, for the disease can be fatal.
Synthetic substances such as Teflon have been used to reduce hoarseness, but they may be rejected by the body as foreign material.
2. Two independent clauses can be connected by a semicolon if the ideas in the clauses are closely related and of equal importance.
EXAMPLE
Collagen, a natural protein, offers hope for people unable to speak or cough normally; it can fill out missing tissue in vocal cords.
3. A conjunctive adverb that connects two clauses is usually preceded by a semicolon and followed by a comma. The most common conjunctive adverbs include accordingly, also, besides, hence, however, moreover, nevertheless, otherwise, therefore, thus, still.
EXAMPLES
Botulism requires immediate medical attention; otherwise, the disease can be fatal.
Collagen may be useful for remolding delicate vocal cord areas; however, only preliminary research has been completed so far.