Question

Choose the grammatically incorrect option below that includes a comma splice (two independent clauses joined by only a comma).

1. Chicago is a vibrant and well-known American city, it is also known for having a lot of violent shootings and what some claim to be a corrupt and brutal police force.
2. Chicago, Illinois, is a well-known and vibrant American city; unfortunately, it is also known for a recent string of violent incidents involving shootings and what some claim to be police brutality.
3. Despite being known for a recent string of violent shootings and what some claim to be police brutality, Chicago is still seen by many as being a vibrant American city.
4. Known as a vibrant American city, Chicago is also unfortunately known for a recent string of violent incidents involving shootings and what some claim to be police brutality.

Answer 1

Option 1 contains a comma splice, joining two independent clauses with only a comma. This is a grammatical error which can be fixed by adding a coordinating conjunction, or by using a period or semicolon.

Step-by-step explanation:

The grammatically incorrect option that includes a comma splice is the first one. It reads: "Chicago is a vibrant and well-known American city, it is also known for having a lot of violent shootings and what some claim to be a corrupt and brutal police force." Here, two independent clauses are incorrectly joined by a comma. To correct a comma splice, you can use methods such as adding a coordinating conjunction, replacing the comma with a period or semicolon, or making one clause subordinate to the other.