Handbook: Comma Splice

Rule Summary:
A comma splice is caused by two independent clauses being connected with a comma without a coordinating conjunction (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so).
EX: Gestures are a means of communication for everyone, they are essential for the hearing-impaired.

Sometimes, the clauses are connected with a word that isn't a conjunction.
EX: Gestures are a means of communication for everyone, however, they are essential for the hearing-impaired.

to fix these, you can join the sentences with a coordinating conjunction, join them with a semi-colon, make the clauses separate sentences, or restructure the sentence.

Examples from my paper:
When we get off the bus and walk over, I notice that the building isn’t made of brick or marble, the walls are just painted to look that way.
------ I substituted the comma for a semi-colon.
When we get off the bus and walk over, I notice that the building isn’t made of brick or marble; the walls are just painted to look that way.

“They’re not,” he says and points over my shoulder, “they’re pointing at The Beatles.”
------ I made the two clauses separate sentences.
“They’re not,” he says and points over my shoulder. “They’re pointing at The Beatles.”