What is a Comma Splice? AP English Definition and Examples

📚 Quick Study Guide

🔍 A comma splice occurs when two independent clauses are joined together by only a comma. 💡 An independent clause is a group of words that can stand alone as a sentence (subject + verb + complete thought). 📝 Comma splices are generally considered grammatical errors in formal writing. 🛠️ To fix a comma splice, you can: * Use a period to create two separate sentences. * Use a semicolon to connect the clauses. * Use a coordinating conjunction (and, but, or, nor, for, so, yet) after the comma. * Subordinate one of the clauses.

🧪 Practice Quiz

1. Which of the following sentences contains a comma splice?
   1. The dog barked loudly, the mailman ran away.
   2. The dog barked loudly; the mailman ran away.
   3. The dog barked loudly, and the mailman ran away.
   4. Because the dog barked loudly, the mailman ran away.
2. What is the best way to correct the following comma splice: "I went to the store, I bought milk."?
   1. I went to the store I bought milk.
   2. I went to the store, but I bought milk.
   3. I went to the store; I bought milk.
   4. Both B and C.
3. Which of the following sentences is grammatically correct?
   1. She is tired, she needs to rest.
   2. She is tired she needs to rest.
   3. She is tired; she needs to rest.
   4. She is tired, so because she needs to rest.
4. Identify the comma splice in the following sentences:
   1. The sun is shining, the birds are singing.
   2. The sun is shining and the birds are singing.
   3. Because the sun is shining, the birds are singing.
   4. The sun is shining.
5. Which sentence correctly uses a coordinating conjunction to fix a comma splice?
   1. He wanted to go to the party, however he was too tired.
   2. He wanted to go to the party, but he was too tired.
   3. He wanted to go to the party he was too tired.
   4. He wanted to go to the party; because he was too tired.
6. Which of the following is NOT a way to correct a comma splice?
   1. Adding a coordinating conjunction.
   2. Using a semicolon.
   3. Creating two separate sentences.
   4. Using a comma before a prepositional phrase.
7. Select the sentence with the correctly punctuated clauses.
   1. The rain fell hard, the game was cancelled.
   2. The rain fell hard, and the game was cancelled.
   3. The rain fell hard because the game was cancelled.
   4. The rain fell hard. The game still continued.