Comma Splice Practice: Spot and Fix Run-On Sentences
This comma splice quiz helps you spot and fix comma splices and run-on sentences in real writing. You get instant feedback as you go. After you finish, keep learning with comma splice examples, practice how to choose the correctly punctuated sentence, and build accuracy with sentence correction practice.
Study Outcomes
- Identify Comma Splices -
Pinpoint errors where commas incorrectly join independent clauses without a coordinating conjunction.
- Spot Run-On Sentences -
Detect fused or run-together sentences that lack appropriate punctuation or connectors.
- Recognize Sentence Fragments -
Find incomplete sentences that are missing a subject, verb, or complete thought.
- Differentiate Independent and Dependent Clauses -
Distinguish between clauses that can stand alone and those that require additional context.
- Apply Corrective Punctuation and Conjunctions -
Use commas, semicolons, and coordinating conjunctions to fix comma splices and run-on sentences.
- Strengthen Grammar Editing Skills -
Leverage instant quiz feedback to refine sentence structure and improve writing clarity.
Cheat Sheet
- Spotting Independent Clauses -
Independent clauses can stand alone as sentences. In a comma splice quiz, you'll often see two of these joined incorrectly, like "She loves painting, he prefers sculpture." Remember the independent-clause test from Purdue OWL: if both parts make sense on their own, you're likely dealing with a run-on sentence or comma splice.
- Distinguishing Comma Splices from Fused Sentences -
A comma splice uses a comma to join two independent clauses without a coordinating conjunction, such as "I drank coffee, I felt energized." A fused sentence drops the comma entirely: "I drank coffee I felt energized." Recognizing that distinction is key in our run on sentence quiz and helps you avoid common pitfalls.
- Using FANBOYS to Repair Splices -
The FANBOYS acronym (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so) reminds you to add a comma + conjunction between clauses: "I tried calling, but she didn't answer." This quick fix is recommended by the University of North Carolina's Writing Center. Keep this trick on hand when tackling a comma splice quiz on run on sentences.
- Employing Semicolons and Conjunctive Adverbs -
As an alternative, use a semicolon to link related clauses ("The sun set; we continued hiking") or pair it with a conjunctive adverb ("The sun set; however, we continued hiking"). This method, endorsed by Grammarly Business and academic style guides, is perfect for elevating sentence variety in a what's a run-on sentence challenge.
- Avoiding Fragments by Checking for Subjects and Verbs -
Sentence fragments lack a subject, verb, or complete thought, like "When we arrived at dusk." To pass any quiz on run on sentences, ensure every clause has at least one subject and one finite verb. A quick subject-verb test from the Harvard College Writing Center helps you confirm sentence completeness.