Front

What is a Comma Splice?

Back

A comma splice occurs when two independent clauses are joined by a comma without a coordinating conjunction.

Front

What is a Run-on Sentence?

Back

A run-on sentence is a sentence that contains two or more independent clauses that are not properly connected.

Front

What is a Fragment?

Back

A fragment is a group of words that looks like a sentence but does not express a complete thought.

Front

How can you fix a Comma Splice?

Back

You can fix a comma splice by adding a coordinating conjunction, changing the comma to a semicolon, or making it into two separate sentences.

Front

What is an Independent Clause?

Back

An independent clause is a group of words that can stand alone as a sentence because it expresses a complete thought.

Front

What is a Dependent Clause?

Back

A dependent clause is a group of words that cannot stand alone as a sentence because it does not express a complete thought.

Front

What is the purpose of a semicolon?

Back

A semicolon is used to connect closely related independent clauses or to separate items in a complex list.

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What is a Coordinating Conjunction?

Back

A coordinating conjunction is a word that connects two independent clauses; examples include 'and', 'but', 'or', 'nor', 'for', 'so', and 'yet'.

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What is the difference between a Comma Splice and a Run-on Sentence?

Back

A comma splice incorrectly uses a comma to join independent clauses, while a run-on sentence fails to use any punctuation to separate them.

Front

How can you identify a Fragment?

Back

A fragment can often be identified by looking for a subject and verb that do not form a complete thought.