Writing Handbook Exercises
 

Comma Splice

In each sentence below, one comma is incorrectly used to splice two independent clauses (complete sentences) together. Change that comma to a period or semicolon (where appropriate) to create two separate sentences.

example:

A tiny Permanent Force could not defend Canada against its then-likely enemy, the United States, but it could train the Militia, the difficulty was that governments ordinarily had no interest in defence.

A tiny Permanent Force could not defend Canada against its then-likely enemy, the United States, but it could train the Militia. The difficulty was that governments ordinarily had no interest in defence.

4. After a prolonged period of frustration with the lack of government support, the Militia leadership argued that it was so starved of funds and equipment that training was bound to suffer, some even demanded a separate Reserve budget to stop the Regulars from filching Militia funds.