English 101
Practice for Comma Splice Quiz
1a. What is a run-on sentence? Define it in words.
1b. Compose a run-on sentence of your own.
1c. Revise the run-on that you composed so that it is no longer a run-on.
2. Circle the sentence below that contains a comma splice.
a. I like to eat bread and butter, my sister likes to eat bread and jam.
b. I like to eat bread, peanut butter, and chocolate.
3. The following sentences contain comma splices. Eliminate the comma splices by joining the clauses
with a comma before a coordinating conjunction (for, and, nor, but, or, so, yet).
a.
I got up late this morning, I didn’t have time for breakfast.
b.
The flowers are blooming, the birds are singing.
4a. When is it okay to join independent clauses with a semi-colon only?
4b. Compose a sentence in which two related independent clauses are joined with a semi-colon.
5. The following sentences contain comma splices. Correct them by joining the clauses with a
subordinating conjunction (lists of these are in this week’s handouts and online), and put the
subordinated clause second in the sentence (after the independent clause). Punctuate correctly.
a.
I ordered a huge pizza, I was hungry.
b.
I ordered a huge pizza, I wasn’t hungry.
6. The following sentences contain comma splices. Correct them by joining the clauses with a
subordinating conjunction, and put the subordinated, dependent clause first in the sentence (before the
independent clause). Punctuate correctly. Here is a list of subordinating conjunctions: after, although,
as, as soon as, because, before, even though, if, in case, now that, since, though, unless, until, when,
whenever, whether, whether or not, while.
a. I see storm clouds in the distance, it is beautiful and sunny outside right now.
b. The dog runs in the house shaking his tail, he knocks over my water glass.
7. The following sentences contain comma splices. Correct them by joining the clauses with semicolon and a conjunctive adverb followed by a comma. Here is a list of conjunctive adverbs:
accordingly, also, besides, consequently, conversely, finally, furthermore, hence, however, indeed,
instead, likewise, meanwhile, moreover, nevertheless, next, nonetheless, otherwise, similarly, still,
subsequently, then, therefore, thus.
a. Our meeting began at eight, many people arrived at nine.
b. I did not do any of my homework today, I will have to do it all tomorrow.
8. Comma splices and quotations: Even when your sentences contain quotations, you are not allowed to
commit comma splices. The following sentences contain comma splices. Revise them using any method
you think will work best. Hint: When a full sentence of your own introduces a quotation, often a colon (:)
is the correct punctuation for introducing the quotation.
a. Brian Doyle describes the enormous size of a blue whale’s heart, “A child could walk
around it, head high, bending only to step through the valves” (87).
b. In “Once More to the Lake,” E.B. White uses some non-sentences, “Peace and goodness
and jollity” (118) and “Then the kettle drum, then the snare, then the bass drum and
cymbals, then crackling light against the dark, and the gods grinning and licking their
chops in the hills” (120).
9. Why do you think comma splices are a serious grammar and punctuation crime?
10. Compose a sentence of your own which contains three independent clauses joined by two
coordinating conjunctions. Punctuate correctly.
11. Compose a sentence of your own which contains two dependent clauses and one independent
clause, joined by two subordinating conjunctions. Punctuate correctly.
12. Compose a sentence of your own which contains two independent clauses joined by one conjunctive
adverb. Punctuate correctly.