Question

Is the following sentence missing semicolons or commas? If so, where?: The hill was covered with wildflowers it was a beautiful sight.

Answer 1

The hill was covered with wildflowers; it was a beautiful sight.

Explanation:

Commas and semicolons can be used to join two independent clauses (simple sentences). This sentence is made up of two independent clauses that were not joined together with any punctuation.

Here, we must use a semicolon instead of a comma because independent clauses that are joined by commas must have a coordinating conjunction in between them (coordinating conjunctions- for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so). Joining two independent clauses with a comma but without a coordinating conjunction results in a comma splice.

Semicolons do not need coordinating conjunctions.

Examples:

I love cake, but my sister prefers cookies. (a comma was used along with a coordinating conjunction to combine the two independent clauses).

I love cake; my sister prefers cookies. (a semicolon was used without a coordinating conjunction to combine the two independent clauses).