Spot Comma Splices & Run-On Sentences - Take the Quiz!
Ready for a run on sentence quiz? Dive in and sharpen your skills!
Think you can spot those tricky grammar pitfalls? In this comma splice quiz, you'll dive into real examples of run-on sentences, comma splices, and fragments to test your understanding. Curious what's a run-on sentence and how to correct it? We'll guide you through clear tips and examples. Need extra practice? Whether you're a student, educator, or aspiring author, this quiz on run on sentences will sharpen your editing skills and boost your confidence. Try our comma splice practice drills or push your knowledge further with a speedy run on sentence quiz. Ready to level up your writing? Jump in now and ace your grammar!
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.