Each independent clause can stand as a sentence.

The idea

Separate independent clauses with a full stop or semicolon, or join them with a comma and a coordinating conjunction such as but or so.

Examples

  • The rain stopped. We opened the windows.
  • The printer jammed, so I called the office.
  • The room was quiet; everyone was reading.
  • The shop was closed, but the café was open.
  • The path was muddy, so we took the bus.
  • The meal was ready. The guests sat down.

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Watch out

A comma alone between two independent clauses creates a comma splice.

Try it yourself

  1. The bus was full, ___ we walked home. Choose a joining word. (so / because)

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    so

    so shows the result and follows a comma.

  2. The parcel arrived___ I signed for it. Choose a mark to make two sentences. (full stop / comma)

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    full stop

    full stop separates the two statements.

  3. The door was locked, ___ the light was on. Choose a conjunction. (but / because)

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    but

    but shows the contrast and follows a comma.

Use it today

Join two related statements in two different ways.