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Most of the sentence level punctuation errors you will face in your lifetime stem from the interplay of ICs, DCs, and phrases.  Once you know them, can find them, and have memorized the rules of putting them together, life and proofreading get so much better!  Isn't grammar fun?!

The only problem is that sometimes various teachers and books call the same error different things. So below I have tried to use the most common names for certain types of errors.  But, as always, if you have a question, you should ask your instructor.  It's a good habit to get in.
 

Choose your error:
 

Or Check out Modes of Correction

Comma Splices
A comma splice (CS) occurs when a writer joins two or more independent clauses (IC) with only a comma. If your teacher has pointed out that you make this error often or if you want to make sure you haven't made this mistake, knowing what an IC is will help (refer back to The Basics with questions).

Example (subjects are in red, and the tensed verbs are in blue):
 

Examples of possible ways to fix the above:

Proofreading tips:
Granted, the above example is less complex than what you will most likely be writing, but the way to find comma splices--regardless of how complex your sentence may be--is this:

1. Read your paper for commas.
2. When you find a comma, cover everything before the comma, and read it.
3. Then, cover everything after the comma, and read the first half.
4. If both halves could be their own sentence and are, therefore, ICs and if you don't have a coordinating conjunction holding them together, you have yourself a good ol' comma splice.
5. To see various ways to fix a comma splice, go to Modes of Correction, and choose one.

Example of a Fusion:

So what's wrong with this sentence, you ask? Well, we have two independent clauses stuck or fused together with a conjunctive adverb without a semicolon separating them. Something must be done.

Examples of possible ways to fix the above:

Proofreading tips:
These aren't necessarily as easy to find as Comma Splices because you can't go hunting for commas.  However, with fusions there is a pattern . . . look for the coordinating conjunction.

1. Read your paper for the seven CCs.
2. When you find one, cover it up, and--just as you would do for a comma splice--read everything proceeding the CC and everything following it.
3. If both halves could stand as their own sentences, having both a subject and tensed verb, you have a fusion.
4. To see the various ways of fixing it, go to Modes of Correction.

A run-together or a run-on is like a fusion in that the writer has joined two sentences without using the correct punctuation. The difference is that in this type of error, the author also forgot to use a coordinating conjunction.

Example:

Examples of possible corrections of the above:

Proofreading tips:
Without the comma or coordinating conjunction to help clue you in, finding these types of errors is more difficult, but it's not impossible.  The main trick with proofreading is learning to see your sentences as separate groups of words.  Learn to read each "sentence" by itself and to ask yourself if they are complete.  Sometimes we, as writers, know what we meant and meant what we said, but we didn't punctuate correctly.  Try reading every other sentence or read random sentences.
Sorry, but you're just going to have to read carefully and slowly. :o)
Once you find a sentence that has two or more ICs stuck together without anything holding them but the ink on the page, you can use one of the Modes of Correction to solve the problem.

Examples of types of fragments:

Out of context, it is easier for us to see these fake sentences as being phony ICs.  The thing that makes them tricky is that, when they appear in a person's writing, the person probably meant for it to go with either the sentence (IC) before or after it, so it makes sense when we read it with the sentences before and after it. Unfortunately, even though it makes "sense," it's considered incorrect, and we need to learn how to avoid it.

Examples of possible corrections of the above (the fragment is in purple):
 

Proofreading tips:
To find fragments there are a few reading tricks you can use: either skip every other sentence when you're proofreading, or read the last sentence first, then second to last, and so on.  The point is to see each sentence as a separate entity, so you can tell if it can stand by itself.
Remember that the problem with, the solution to, and hope for fragments lies in the sentences around the fragment.  Ninety-nine percent of the time, it should have, logically, be joined to the sentence following it or proceeding it. 

Misplaced Comma
Remember that you don't need a comma in the following cases:
1) If you're not making a list or putting together two ICs
    "My brother called, and said he'd be right over." (INCORRECT--the second element is NOT an IC.)
2) If you begin a sentence with a CC
    "So, I went to greet him." (INCORRECT)
3) Between your subject and your verb
    "Shaunna, Aaron, and I, went to the old factory." (INCORRECT)
There are other places a person could put a comma if she or he really wanted to but needn't. To refresh yourself on correct comma usage, see The Joys of Punctuation.

There are four basic ways to go about address issues in sentence management.  You must choose one of the following ways:

• Place a period between the clauses.
• Have a coordinating conjunction preceded by a comma between the two ICs
• Use a semicolon to join them.
• (or) Subordinate one of the two clauses, making it dependent (showing its  “leaning” relationship).

This is the most common way of putting two ICs together and the one you will most likely use.
Remember the CCs are  . . .
For
And
Nor
But
Or
Yet
So
(Remember . . . "FANBOYS." Cool, huh?)
 

Examples:
 

NOTE:  Remember that a comma is only needed before a CC if it is putting together two ICs or a list of items.  Never use a comma before CCs in clauses like the following.

 We went outside and had a picnic.  (conjoined verbs)
 Cindy and Ronnie decorated the bulletin boards. (conjoined nouns)

SEMICOLON:

While this form of punctuation can be used to join any two independent clauses,  they are most often used to show rhetorical or logical relationships.  To make sure that this type of relation exists and makes sense, you might want to use conjunctive adverbs (CA) such as the following:
 

You don't have to use these words, but if the CAs could fit in the logical flow of ideas, you could argue that the semicolon alone would be appropriate.

Examples:
 

NOTE:  A comma needs to follow any of these CAs (IC; CA, IC).

There are many words that one can use to make a clause dependent.  Here is a brief list of some:
 

Examples:

NOTE: If a dependent clause (DC) begins a sentence, a comma must be placed before the independent clause (DC, IC); however, the same is not necessarily true for dependent clauses that follow an independent clause.
 
 
 

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