16 Do not break a sentence in two. (In other words, do not use a period where a comma is needed.)
Details	Incorrect Example	Correct Example
a) Don’t split a compound sentence in half.	We went down to the pond. And he followed us. If people would only stop and think. Then they wouldn’t make so many mistakes.	We went down to the pond, and he followed us. If people would only stop and think, then they wouldn’t make so many mistakes.
b) Don’t split a prepositional phrase from the main part of the sentence.	After the game. We went out for ice cream.	After the game, we went out for ice cream.
c) Don’t split a participle phrase from the main part of the sentence.	Running as hard as she could. She suddenly collapsed.	Running as hard as she could, she suddenly collapsed.
d) Don’t split an appositive from the main part of the sentence.	He was ashamed of his mother. The washerwoman who worked six days a week.	He was ashamed of his mother, the washerwoman who worked six days a week.
e) Don’t split a dependent clause from the main part of the sentence.	Because Jim left early. He missed seeing his friends.	Because Jim left early, he missed seeing his friends.
f) Don’t split a quote from the quote tag.	“We’ll just see about that.” I said.	“We’ll just see about that,” I said.
Details	Incorrect Example	Correct Example