Yes, it's a common mistake to link two independent clauses with a comma. That is called 'comma splice' or 'comma fault'.
You can use a period/full stop, a semicolon, or a comma with a coordinating conjunction to connect two independent clauses:
(comma splice/fault) "I went for a walk, she cooked a meal."
(correct) "I went for a walk. She cooked a meal."
(correct) "I went for a walk; she cooked a meal."
(correct) "I went for a walk, and she cooked a meal."
(correct) "When I went for a walk, she cooked a meal."
Note that, in the last sentence, 'When I went for a walk' is no longer an independent clause because you have used the conjunction 'when' - in other words, you've changed the independent clause 'I went for a walk' to a dependent clause 'when I went for a walk'.
Sure, there are other ways you can use to join two independent clauses. Also, you may have noticed some people linked two short parallel clauses with a comma, for example, "It's cool, it's wonderful." ('deliberate splice')
So, don't misuse the useful comma,,,
Comments
Thank you, Rajesh, dara, Onee, Evangelina!
"It is so noisy. I cannot sleep."
"It's so noisy, so I cannot sleep."
"Because it is so noisy, I cannot sleep."
"Grammar is always interesting for me. However, master it needs miles to go."
"Thanks for your useful blog, teacher Expector." :)
You made it easy. :)
Many thanks, LUCI, almira, RK, Shoba!
I had some doubts about commas, and they are clear now.
When we use commas, we have to be careful.
Thank you for this post, Sir Expector. :)
Thanks Expector.. Its a very useful tip..