Here's a breakdown:
* Independent clause: A complete thought that can stand alone as a sentence.
* Comma splice: Two independent clauses joined by a comma without proper punctuation or conjunction.
Example:
Incorrect: The cat sat on the mat, it looked very content. (Comma splice)
Correct:
* The cat sat on the mat. It looked very content. (Two separate sentences)
* The cat sat on the mat, and it looked very content. (Comma followed by a coordinating conjunction)
* The cat sat on the mat; it looked very content. (Comma followed by a semicolon)
Where NOT to find a comma splice:
* Within a dependent clause: A dependent clause cannot stand alone as a sentence.
* Between items in a list: A comma is used to separate items in a list, not to join independent clauses.
Let me know if you'd like more examples or want to practice identifying comma splices!