Comma Splice (cs)

A very serious writing problem is the failure to join two sentences with only 1/2 of the required comma+coordinating conjunction between the two sentences. This error is called the "comma splice" (the "cs").

The first task for you to accomplish is to learn the difference between a "coordinating" conjunction and a "subordinating" conjunction. Let's give that a try:

The coordinating conjunction joins two identical structures; that is, the "cc" joins two sentences, two nouns, two verbs, two adjectives, two adverbs ... you get the idea. The "cc" is a kind of "glue" that joins two equals. The most common "cc" is the word "and." Other "cc" words include "nor, or, but, neither, yet, for, so."
The subordinating conjunction turns what would otherwise be a sentence into a modifier or into a noun. That's a good trick, but it's a trick that can throw you over. The best way to not be fooled is to learn the most common "sc" head words (that is, words that begin the subordinating conjunction), especially "which" and "because."

Right now, we're interested only in the coordinating conjunction and the comma, since to leave out either one makes the dreaded "cs." For example, the following sentence is really made up of two smaller ones, the writer having tried to join them with only a comma:

One of the classes was titled "men," this category had descriptions like aggressive men, dear men, religious men, handsome men, mythological men, and crude men.

Sometimes, a writer will forget the comma and just use the "and." Alas, the "and" (or the "comma") by itself is not strong enough to put together two sentences. The proper use of the comma and its conjunction (, and) "glues" the two sentences together, like this:

One of the classes was titled "men" , and this category had descriptions like aggressive men, dear men, religious men, handsome men, mythological men, and crude men.

Of course, "and" isn't the only coordinating conjunction you can use, depending upon the structure of your sentence and what you want that sentence to say.

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