USE OF COMMA SPLICE

Where a sentence has two parts that could stand alone as sentences, with only a comma to separate them, it is a comma splice

+ I went outside, I needed a break.

The two parts here are both complete sentences and should not be joined by a comma. There are three basic ways of avoiding this:

1. Write them as two independent sentences:

+ I went outside. I needed a break.

(However, using this too often can make the writing rather choppy if there are too many short sentences.)

2. Separate them with a semi-colon:

+ I went outside; I needed a break.

3. Use a conjunction:

+ I went outside because I needed a break.