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Subject:About that comma splice From:Sue MacIntosh <sue -at- PAGES -dot- COM> Date:Mon, 7 Feb 1994 11:40:13 -0800
Michael Priestley writes:
>[an apology for writing a sentence with a comma splice]
Don't beat yourself up, Michael! You're not an idiot. You just need
a different reference book!
The Little, Brown Handbook, 3rd Edition (and my personal favorite
style guide) says the following about comma splices:
"Separate two main clauses with a comma only when they are joined by
a coordinating conjunction."
BUT, then the following--
"Exception: Experienced writers sometimes use commas between very
brief main clauses that are grammatically parallel.
He's not a person, he's a monster.
"However, many readers view such punctuation as incorrect. Unless
you are certain that your readers will not object to the comma in a
sentence like this one, separate the clauses with periods or
semicolons."
I, like Kim Ballard, did not have any trouble understanding the
sentence. Although I can't remember the sentence exactly, the
clauses were grammatically parallel, weren't they?
Michael, you must have assumed that your readers, much like you, were
also "experienced writers." ;-)
Sue
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Susan M. MacIntosh
Pages Software Inc
San Diego, CA
sue -at- pages -dot- com
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