Question

name
113 avoiding comma splices
a comma splice occurs when two or more sentences have been joined with only a comma
between them.
avoid comma splices by making sure all of your ideas are properly linked.
incorrect: we went by plane, it was my first flight across the country.
correct: we went by plane. it was my first flight across the country.
practice a recognizing comma splices
read each item. if the sentence is correct, write c on the line. if it has a comma splice, write i for
incorrect. then, circle the error.
example: we got to the airport early, we had to wait two hours for our flight.
answer: we got to the airport early, we had to wait two hours for our flight. i

1. the airport was crowded, a storm in chicago

closed the airport there.

1. dad put me in charge of getting a treat. my

sister came with me to help.

1. finally our flight was called, we got in line to

board.

1. three of our family sat in one row, two sat

across the aisle.

1. it was fun to see our city from the air, i could

see all the highways.

1. it took three hours to get from home to

portland, so i took a nap.

1. my aunt and her family met us at the airport,

my cousins had changed a lot.

1. they said we changed too. it’s been three

years since we saw them.

1. they took us downtown to the museum, we

had lunch at a restaurant there.

1. we wanted to stay longer, but we already had

our return tickets.
practice b rewriting sentences
read the sentences. then, on the line provided, rewrite the sentences without using a comma splice.
example: my aunt came to see us from new york city, she came by train.
answer: my aunt came to see us from new york city. she came by train.

1. aunt terri invited us to visit her in new york, maybe we will go next summer.

1. mom wants to shop on fifth avenue, dad wants to see times square.

1. my older sister insists we see a broadway play, she wants to decide which one!

1. we will have to wait and see about the play, tickets are very expensive.

1. i would like to see a baseball game, maybe the yankees will be in town.

Explanation:

The problem is about grammar and sentence structure, specifically avoiding comma splices. The subfield under Arts that best applies is Writing (or Linguistics, as it deals with sentence structure). For Practice A, we analyze each sentence to see if it has a comma splice (two independent clauses joined only by a comma). For Practice B, we rewrite sentences to fix comma splices, usually by adding a period, semicolon, or coordinating conjunction with a comma.

Practice A Answers:

1. The airport was crowded, a storm in Chicago closed the airport there. - I (comma splice between two independent clauses)
2. Dad put me in charge of getting a treat. My sister came with me to help. - C (two separate sentences, properly punctuated)
3. Finally our flight was called, we got in line to board. - I (comma splice)
4. Three of our family sat in one row, two sat across the aisle. - I (comma splice)
5. It was fun to see our city from the air, I could see all the highways. - I (comma splice)
6. It took three hours to get from home to Portland, so I took a nap. - C (the comma is before a coordinating conjunction "so" joining two clauses, which is correct)
7. My aunt and her family met us at the airport, my cousins had changed a lot. - I (comma splice)
8. They said we changed too. It’s been three years since we saw them. - C (two separate sentences)
9. They took us downtown to the museum, we had lunch at a restaurant there. - I (comma splice)
10. We wanted to stay longer, but we already had our return tickets. - C (comma before coordinating conjunction "but" is correct)

Practice B Answers (rewritten to fix comma splices, one possible way each):

1. Aunt Terri invited us to visit her in New York. Maybe we will go next summer. (or "Aunt Terri invited us to visit her in New York; maybe we will go next summer.")
2. Mom wants to shop on Fifth Avenue. Dad wants to see Times Square. (or "Mom wants to shop on Fifth Avenue; Dad wants to see Times Square.")
3. My older sister insists we see a Broadway play. She wants to decide which one! (or "My older sister insists we see a Broadway play; she wants to decide which one!")
4. We will have to wait and see about the play. Tickets are very expensive. (or "We will have to wait and see about the play; tickets are very expensive.")
5. I would like to see a baseball game. Maybe the Yankees will be in town. (or "I would like to see a baseball game; maybe the Yankees will be in town.")

Answer:

Practice A:

1. I
2. C
3. I
4. I
5. I
6. C
7. I
8. C
9. I
10. C

Practice B (sample answers):

1. Aunt Terri invited us to visit her in New York. Maybe we will go next summer.
2. Mom wants to shop on Fifth Avenue. Dad wants to see Times Square.
3. My older sister insists we see a Broadway play. She wants to decide which one!
4. We will have to wait and see about the play. Tickets are very expensive.
5. I would like to see a baseball game. Maybe the Yankees will be in town.