What is a Comma Splice? Definition and Examples for ESL Students

📚 Quick Study Guide

🔍 A comma splice occurs when two independent clauses (complete sentences) are joined together with only a comma.
• ✍️ Independent Clause: A group of words that can stand alone as a sentence (subject + verb + complete thought).
• 🚫 Comma Splice Example: *I went to the store, I bought milk.* (Incorrect)
• ✅ Corrected Examples:
  • *I went to the store, and I bought milk.* (Comma + coordinating conjunction)
  • *I went to the store; I bought milk.* (Semicolon)
  • *I went to the store. I bought milk.* (Separate sentences)
  • *After going to the store, I bought milk.* (Subordinating conjunction)
• 💡 How to fix a comma splice:
  • Add a coordinating conjunction (and, but, or, nor, for, so, yet) after the comma.
  • Use a semicolon to separate the clauses.
  • Make two separate sentences.
  • Use a subordinating conjunction (because, although, if, since, when, etc.) to create a dependent clause.

Practice Quiz

1. Which of the following sentences contains a comma splice?
   1. I like pizza, I also like pasta.
   2. I like pizza, but I also like pasta.
   3. I like pizza; I also like pasta.
   4. I like pizza. I also like pasta.
2. What is the best way to correct the following comma splice: "She was tired, she went to bed early."?
   1. She was tired she went to bed early.
   2. She was tired, and she went to bed early.
   3. She was tired, but she went to bed early.
   4. She was tired, so she went to bed early.
3. Which sentence is correctly punctuated?
   1. The sun was shining, it was a beautiful day.
   2. The sun was shining; it was a beautiful day.
   3. The sun was shining it was a beautiful day.
   4. The sun was shining, but it was a beautiful day,
4. Identify the sentence with a comma splice.
   1. He went to the park and played frisbee.
   2. She studied hard, she passed the exam.
   3. They ate dinner before going to the movies.
   4. Although it was raining, they went for a walk.
5. Choose the best revision for: "It was raining, the game was cancelled."
   1. It was raining the game was cancelled.
   2. It was raining, the game was not cancelled.
   3. It was raining, so the game was cancelled.
   4. It was raining, or the game was cancelled.
6. Which of these sentences is NOT a comma splice?
   1. I enjoy reading books, watching movies is also fun.
   2. I enjoy reading books; watching movies is also fun.
   3. I enjoy reading books, and watching movies is also fun.
   4. I enjoy reading books but, watching movies is also fun.
7. Which sentence uses a subordinating conjunction to correct a comma splice?
   1. The cat slept, it was comfortable.
   2. The cat slept, and it was comfortable.
   3. Because the cat was comfortable, it slept.
   4. The cat slept; it was comfortable.