Mastering Comma Splices and Independent Clauses

What is a comma splice?

• A comma used to separate items in a list

• A comma used to end a sentence

• A comma used to join two independent clauses

• A comma used to introduce a quote

Which of the following is an independent clause?

• Because he was not accepted to Juilliard

• Jerry was an excellent musician

• Although Jerry was an excellent musician

• While he practiced every day

What is the simplest way to correct a comma splice?

• Use a period and capitalize the next word

• Use a dash

• Use a comma and a conjunction

• Use a semicolon

Which punctuation mark can be used to join two independent clauses without creating a comma splice?

• Colon

• Semicolon

• Dash

• Comma

What is the role of a transition word in correcting a comma splice?

• To introduce a new sentence

• To establish a relationship between two clauses

• To end a sentence

• To list items

Which of the following sentences correctly uses a transition word to fix a comma splice?

• Jerry was an excellent musician; however, he was not accepted to Juilliard.

• Jerry was an excellent musician, but he was not accepted to Juilliard.

• Jerry was an excellent musician, he was not accepted to Juilliard.

• Jerry was an excellent musician; he was not accepted to Juilliard.

What type of conjunction is 'although'?

• Correlative conjunction

• Subordinating conjunction

• Conjunctive adverb

• Coordinating conjunction

Which of the following sentences correctly uses a subordinating conjunction?

• Jerry was an excellent musician, he was not accepted to Juilliard.

• Jerry was an excellent musician; however, he was not accepted to Juilliard.

• Jerry was an excellent musician, but he was not accepted to Juilliard.

• Although Jerry was an excellent musician, he was not accepted to Juilliard.

Which of the following is a coordinating conjunction?

• However

• Because

• Although

• But

Why is it important to avoid comma splices in writing?

• To make sentences longer

• To use more punctuation marks

• To make writing more complex

• To make reading easier and clearer