Which sentence contains a comma splice?

Which sentence contains a comma splice?

• A. I planned to attend the seminar, my boss wouldn't approve.
• B. I planned to attend the seminar; my boss wouldn't approve.
• C. I planned to attend the seminar. My boss wouldn't approve.
• D. I planned to attend the seminar, and my boss wouldn't approve.

Answer: (A)

A comma splice happens when two independent clauses are joined only by a comma, with no coordinating conjunction. Here, the two parts—“I planned to attend the seminar” and “my boss wouldn't approve”—could each stand alone as sentences, so linking them with just a comma creates a splice. Using a semicolon or a period between the two thoughts fixes it, and adding a coordinating conjunction after the comma (like “but” or “and”) also makes the connection correct. The other sentences either separate the ideas with a period or properly connect them with a semicolon or a comma plus a conjunction, so they’re not comma splices.

A comma splice happens when two independent clauses are joined only by a comma, with no coordinating conjunction. Here, the two parts—“I planned to attend the seminar” and “my boss wouldn't approve”—could each stand alone as sentences, so linking them with just a comma creates a splice. Using a semicolon or a period between the two thoughts fixes it, and adding a coordinating conjunction after the comma (like “but” or “and”) also makes the connection correct. The other sentences either separate the ideas with a period or properly connect them with a semicolon or a comma plus a conjunction, so they’re not comma splices.