Which sentence contains a comma splice?

• A. She enjoys hiking and reading.
• B. She enjoys hiking, she reads.
• C. She enjoys hiking; she reads.
• D. She enjoys hiking, and she reads.

Answer: (B)

A comma splice happens when two independent clauses are joined only by a comma. Each independent clause can stand alone as a sentence because it has its own Subject and verb. In the sentence with the comma, “She enjoys hiking” and “she reads” are both complete thoughts that could be sentences on their own, but they’re connected only by a comma, which is not enough to join independent clauses.

The other sentences show correct punctuation: one has a single clause with two activities (hiking and reading) linked inside the same verb phrase; another uses a semicolon to properly connect two independent clauses; and the last uses a comma followed by a coordinating conjunction (and), which is also acceptable.