Comma Splices
A comma splice is when you use a comma to join two independent clauses, as in It’s a sunny day, we’re off to the beach. Critics insist that such clauses be separated by a stronger mark than a comma, such as a semicolon, dash, or full stop, or by a coordinating conjunction, such as and or so.
The comma splice has long been used for stylistic effect, not just in casual writing but in literature, so its other names comma fault and comma error are a bit unfair.
But if you’re writing official or business English, it’s best avoided. In other contexts it should be used with caution, and only if you know what you’re doing, because many readers will consider it a mistake.
