SAT Writing › Identifying Punctuation Errors: Comma Splices
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
I bought two hundred specialized sheets of paper for the project, John bought some colored pencils. No error
project, John
I bought two
specialized sheets
colored pencils.
No error
Two independent clauses being joined only by a single comma result in an error known as the "comma splice." In the example above, a period, a comma and a conjunction, or a semicolon would all be appropriate to punctuate the sentence.
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
I got charged three hundred dollars at the box office, I had thought that one of the actors was going to purchase my ticket. No error
office, I had
dollars at
I got charged
that one
No error
When two independent clauses are joined only by a single comma, this results in an error known as the "comma splice." In the example above, something more than a comma is needed to separate the two clauses. The portion of the sentence that needs to be corrected is, "office, I had"
The two, equally grammatically correct, options to fix this sentence would be to add an appropriate coordinating conjunction or to simply replace the comma with a semicolon.
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Anna, Hannah, and their sister, Susanna, are all my cousins; it’s no wonder we get confused at family reunions. No error
No error
cousins;
Hannah,
sister,
Susanna
This list is punctuated correctly. There should be a comma between each item in the list and an additional comma on either side of “Susanna,” which modifies “their sister.” (If “their sister, Susanna,” was the first or second item in the list, a semicolon would be needed to separate the items for clarity’s sake, but here it’s unnecessary.) In the second half of the sentence, a semicolon correctly separates the two independent clauses without a conjunction.
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
I have traveled all over the world, England is my favorite place. No error
world, England
I have
favorite
No error
over
There are several acceptable ways to separate independent clauses, but simply using a single comma by itself is not one of them. That is an error known as the comma splice. The three options available to correct such an error are a period, a conjunction with a comma, or a semicolon. These three options are all equally grammatically correct, which one you choose is a matter of style. The example sentence contains two independent clauses, so rather than a comma after "world" one of those three options needs to be inserted.
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
I've had an incredibly long day, I worked for almost eleven hours. No error
day,
No error
I've had
for
eleven hours.
In the example sentence both "I've had an incredibly long day" and "I worked for almost eleven hours" are acting as grammatically complete, independent clauses. Thus, the comma after "day" must either be replaced with a semicolon, or have a coordinating conjunction added after it. The other option would be to replace the comma with a period and make this compound sentence into two separate sentences.
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Although certainly the best known of the early aviators, Orville and Wilbur Wright were not the only inventors pioneering airplane designs, the Montgolfier brothers should also be remembered for their timely rediscovery of the hot-air balloon. No error
designs,
the only inventors pioneering
for their timely
aviators,
No error
Here we have a comma splice: two independent clauses that are incorrectly separated by a comma. Two independent clauses in the same sentence must be punctuated by either a comma with a conjunction or a semicolon. Correctly punctuated, this sentence would read: “Although certainly the best known of the early aviators, Orville and Wilbur Wright were not the only inventors pioneering airplane designs; the Montgolfier brothers should also be remembered for their timely rediscovery of the hot-air balloon.” The comma after “aviators” is correct, since it’s separating an independent from a dependent clause.
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Jeremiah always tried to avoid cleaning the toilets, sometimes he would volunteer to do other chores instead, like washing the dishes. No error
toilets, sometimes
avoid
other
instead, like
No error
This sentence features two independent clauses separated by a comma, otherwise known as a comma splice. The sentence needs to be separated by a conjunction like "and" or "so," or by a punctuation mark that divides the sentence into two, like a period or a semicolon.
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Thomas had always struggled with trigonometry, he thought that circles should remain circles and let triangles and squiggles be their own shapes. No error
trigonometry, he
had always struggled
should remain
their
No error
This sentence is an example of a run-on or comma splice. It has two independent clauses separated only by a comma. One way to fix this is to change the comma to a semicolon; if this were to be done, the corrected sentence would read, "Thomas had always struggled with trigonometry; he thought that circles should remain circles and let triangles and squiggles be their own shapes."
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
My friend Matt is an incredible computer programmer, my friend Sally is the best dancer I know. No error
programmer, my
My friend Matt
no error
the best
I know.
Both clauses in the example sentence are independent clauses (grammatically complete clauses that could stand on their own as sentences). When two independent clauses are connected into one sentence it is called a compound sentence. The correct ways to punctuate compound sentences are either a conjunction and a comma or a semicolon. The other option in this instance would be to simply replace the comma with a period.
Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.
Contrary to popular belief, the artisanal cheese-makers did not live a decadent, gourmet lifestyle, they had to scrimp and save on their personal grocery expenditures in order to keep their business afloat. No error
lifestyle
belief,
decadent, gourmet
on their personal grocery expenditures
No error
Here we have a comma splice: two independent clauses that are incorrectly separated by a comma. Two independent clauses in the same sentence must be punctuated by either a comma with a conjunction or a semicolon. Correctly punctuated, this sentence would read: “Contrary to popular belief, the artisanal cheese-makers did not live a decadent, gourmet lifestyle; they had to scrimp and save on their personal grocery expenditures in order to keep their business afloat.” Elsewhere, commas are correctly separating two adjectives in a list and an independent clause from a dependent clause.