When two sentences are separated by only a comma, this is called a "comma splice", and it is not correct. The correct punctuation is either a semicolon instead of a comma, or to keep the two as separate sentences, each ending in a period.
Examples
Comma splice, incorrect: Carla studied Spanish, Peter studied German.
Semicolon, correct: Carla studied Spanish; Peter studied German.
Two sentences, correct: Carla studied Spanish. Peter studied German.
You can also use a coordinating conjunction like "and" to "fix" a comma splice:
Carla studied Spanish, and Peter studied German.
Note: A similar punctuation error in which two sentences are joined together with no punctuation between them is called a run-on sentence:
Carla studied Spanish Peter studied German.
When two sentences are written as one and seperated by a comma, they are called a run-on or fused sentence.
In formal writing a comma is not to be used two join two independent clauses. If comma is used between two sentences consisting of independent clauses it is known as comma splice. Two sentences formed by independent clauses should always be joined by a co-ordinate conjunction or a short punctuation mark such as semicolon if the sentences are closely related.
The coordinating conjunctions that can be used to combine two complete sentences with a comma are "for, and, nor, because, yet, so."
a comma splice. This occurs when two independent clauses are incorrectly connected by a comma without a coordinating conjunction. This mistake can be corrected by using a semicolon, period, or conjunction to properly separate the clauses.
A compound sentence combines two independent clauses with a comma and a coordinating conjunction, such as "and," "but," or "so." It is a way to express two related ideas in a single sentence.
When two sentences are written as one and seperated by a comma, they are called a run-on or fused sentence.
It's called a run-on comma splice.
If it is possible to replace a comma in a given sentence with a period, and wind up with two sentences that are each complete and that make sense as sentences, then the comma that you replaced was being used to splice together two sentences. This is generally a bad idea.
In formal writing a comma is not to be used two join two independent clauses. If comma is used between two sentences consisting of independent clauses it is known as comma splice. Two sentences formed by independent clauses should always be joined by a co-ordinate conjunction or a short punctuation mark such as semicolon if the sentences are closely related.
fused & comma splice
fused & comma splice
The coordinating conjunctions that can be used to combine two complete sentences with a comma are "for, and, nor, because, yet, so."
run-on sentence
a comma splice. This occurs when two independent clauses are incorrectly connected by a comma without a coordinating conjunction. This mistake can be corrected by using a semicolon, period, or conjunction to properly separate the clauses.
contains two or more simple sentences joined by a comma and a coordinating conjunction or by a semicolon> and, but, nor, or for.
A compound sentence combines two independent clauses with a comma and a coordinating conjunction, such as "and," "but," or "so." It is a way to express two related ideas in a single sentence.
comma splice