What is an example of a comma splice?

A comma splice occurs when two independent clauses (complete sentences) are joined by just a comma without an appropriate coordinating conjunction or without proper punctuation. The example identified showcases this error clearly: "I tried to finish reading the book, I was interrupted by a phone call." Here, both parts of the sentence can stand alone as complete thoughts, yet they are improperly linked by only a comma.

In contrast, the other options either contain proper conjunctions or do not consist of two independent clauses at all. For instance, the first choice presents a compound sentence connected correctly with the conjunction "and," making it grammatically sound. Similarly, the third option is a simple sentence with a subject and verb, while the final choice also uses "and" to properly connect two independent clauses, avoiding the comma splice error. Understanding the correct structure of sentences and the use of punctuation is crucial to avoiding comma splices in writing.