Here's the breakdown:
* Independent Clause: A group of words that contains a subject and a verb and expresses a complete thought.
* Sentence Splice: When two independent clauses are joined together with only a comma, it creates a run-on sentence.
Example of a sentence splice:
* Incorrect: The sun was shining, it was a beautiful day.
Why is it wrong?
* The two clauses are independent, but the comma doesn't provide enough separation or connection.
How to fix it:
There are several ways to fix a sentence splice:
1. Use a semicolon: This is a strong punctuation mark that can connect two closely related independent clauses.
* Correct: The sun was shining; it was a beautiful day.
2. Use a coordinating conjunction (and, but, or, nor, for, so, yet): These conjunctions join independent clauses and create a grammatically correct sentence.
* Correct: The sun was shining, and it was a beautiful day.
3. Use a period: Separate the two clauses into two distinct sentences.
* Correct: The sun was shining. It was a beautiful day.
4. Use a subordinating conjunction: This type of conjunction connects a dependent clause to an independent clause.
* Correct: Because the sun was shining, it was a beautiful day.
In summary:
Sentence splices are a common error that can make your writing unclear and confusing. By understanding the rules and using the correct punctuation or conjunctions, you can avoid this mistake and create well-structured sentences.