Which error involves joining two independent clauses with only a comma?

Which error involves joining two independent clauses with only a comma?

• A. Comma splice
• B. Run-on sentence
• C. Fragment
• D. Parallel structure

Answer: (A)

When two independent clauses (complete thoughts that can stand alone) are joined with only a comma, the error is called a comma splice. A comma isn’t strong enough on its own to hold two full sentences together, so the correct way is to add a coordinating conjunction after the comma (and, but, or, nor, for, yet, so) or to use a semicolon, or to make them two separate sentences. For example: The plan looked good, it failed in practice. would be fixed as The plan looked good, but it failed in practice. or The plan looked good; it failed in practice. or The plan looked good. It failed in practice. The other terms don’t fit this specific issue. A fragment is an incomplete sentence lacking a subject or verb. Parallel structure is about keeping the same grammatical form in a list or comparison, not about how two independent clauses are connected. A run-on can be a broader idea of improper joining of clauses, but the phrase “joined with only a comma” points to the specific mistake of a comma splice.

When two independent clauses (complete thoughts that can stand alone) are joined with only a comma, the error is called a comma splice. A comma isn’t strong enough on its own to hold two full sentences together, so the correct way is to add a coordinating conjunction after the comma (and, but, or, nor, for, yet, so) or to use a semicolon, or to make them two separate sentences.

For example: The plan looked good, it failed in practice. would be fixed as The plan looked good, but it failed in practice. or The plan looked good; it failed in practice. or The plan looked good. It failed in practice.

The other terms don’t fit this specific issue. A fragment is an incomplete sentence lacking a subject or verb. Parallel structure is about keeping the same grammatical form in a list or comparison, not about how two independent clauses are connected. A run-on can be a broader idea of improper joining of clauses, but the phrase “joined with only a comma” points to the specific mistake of a comma splice.