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June 6, 2000
COMMA SPLICES
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Comma splices are one of the most frequent punctuation errors in sentence construction. A comma splice occurs when a comma is placed between two independent (or main) clauses. You will recall that an independent clause is a complete statement that could stand alone as a simple sentence but instead is part of a longer sentence.
INDEPENDENT CLAUSE #1: Johnny hit the ball.
INDEPENDENT CLAUSE #2: Betty caught it.
COMMA SPLICE (ERROR): Johnny hit the ball, Betty caught it.
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CORRECTING COMMA SPLICES
You can correct a comma splice by using one of these methods:
1. Connect the independent clauses with a semicolon.
Example: Johnny hit the ball; Betty caught it.
2. Connect the independent clauses with a conjunction, creating a compound sentence.
Example: Johnny hit the ball and Betty caught it.
Example: Johnny hit the ball, but Betty caught it.
3. Connect the independent clauses while creating a complex sentence.
Example: Although Johnny hit the ball, Betty caught it.
4. Make each independent clause a separate sentence.
Example: Johnny hit the ball. Betty caught it.
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PRACTICE:
The following samples contain comma splices. Correct each comma splice with all four methods listed above. Possible answers will appear in next week's issue.
1. Bertha has two sisters, Grace and Henrietta have two brothers.
2. Jimmy liked working for his uncle, Sam hated it.
3. Anna played the piano for many years, arthritis forced her to stop.
4. Theo plans to take the job in Seattle, who will mind the store?
5. Harold saw Sylvia, he wept.
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WRITING TIP
To make your writing more reader-oriented, here are a few items to check before sending your message:
1. Have you used "you" statements more often than "I" or "we" statements?
2. Have you taken into account a reader's perspective on the subject?
3. Have you used description that will appeal to the reader(s)?
4. Have you considered the reader's needs for information about the subject?
5. Have you provided a means for follow-up on this correspondence?
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YOUR GRAMMAR AND WRITING QUESTIONS
QUESTION: Suppose something just happened yesterday (past tense). Which of the following would be correct?
#1: Her teacher had told the class they were getting a new student.
#2: Her teacher told the class they were getting a new student.
Thank you in advance. (Ray)
GRAMMARCHECK: For recent past events, use simple past tense; thus, #2 above is correct.
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QUESTION: I did not know that Mrs. stood for "Mistress." What does Ms. stand for? (Kimberly)
GRAMMARCHECK: "Mrs." and "Miss" both stand for "Mistress"; however, "Mrs." indicates one who is married, while "Miss" indicates one who is unmarried. "Ms." is a term made up in the 1960s that does not identify one's marital status. It probably stands for "Mistress."
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QUESTION: Thank you for a very interesting and informative newsletter. The information which you present has certainly been of great assistance to me in my writing.
Further to my inquiry regarding the use of a period (full stop) following an abbreviation where the last letter of the original word is the same as the last letter of the abbreviation, I submit the following reference for your consideration and the considerations of other members of the list.
CURRENT ENGLISH USAGE by Frederick T. Wood (revised by Flavell and Flavell, 1981) Papermac: Macmillan London Limited. "If the abbreviation ends with the last letter of the word, it is now common practice to omit the stop [or period]...."
Example: Doctor = "Dr" rather than "Dr."
I sincerely hope that this information is found to be of a useful nature by both the list moderators and list members. (David)
GRAMMARCHECK: Thank you for sharing this interpretation of the period's use with abbreviations. The source you cite reflects a less-common usage in terms of date (1981) and publisher (London). Not that London is obscure, of course, but this text reminds us all of the distinctions between British and American English. While we are familiar with this usage, we do not feel it reflects the majority method of punctuating abbreviations. However, we always appreciate hearing from readers offering variant perspectives--it keeps grammar from getting boring, doesn't it?
Many current grammar books reflect common American usage: Ms., Mrs., Mr., Dr., St., etc. However, localized businesses sometimes prefer specialized punctuation usage. We recommend following your employer's guidelines. Thanks for writing, David!
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QUESTION: I thoroughly enjoy your newsletter! You are truly an answer to my prayers since sometimes I feel I live in a grammarless world. I have a few questions. (JEV)
1) Spell Check is annoying. I always tell my students that Spell Check is only as good as the person using it. Once in awhile, it really confuses me. For example, Spell Check tells me that B.S. (Bachelor of Science) doesn't need the period, nor does P.O. (as in Post Office Box). Is this correct?
GRAMMARCHECK: You're probably writing about "Grammar Check" programs (since Spell Check only checks the spelling while Grammar Check often checks spelling AND grammar). Software programs vary as much as their users, so we don't recommend that anyone trust 100% in any of them, though they serve a useful purpose. Initialisms, acronyms, and certain forms of jargon do not require periods. Since practice can vary, follow the preferred format of the authority to whom the writing is submitted.
2) It also wants me to use "an" in the following sentence: "She has an M.S. in Business." What do you think? In reading it, "an" sounds better but it seems incorrect.
GRAMMARCHECK: In words beginning with vowel sounds--even if the letters are not actually vowels--you are correct in using "an," although we agree it does seem awkward!
3) Spell Check says this sentence is incorrect: "He has a variety of expertise in this field." Spell Check wants it to say "expertises," which sounds terrible.
GRAMMARCHECK: Spell Check (Grammar Check) is correct on this one--sorry! The phrase "variety of" is a non-count noun which implies plural rather than singular entities. For example, consider the following: "She has a variety of skill." Yuk! In this sentence, "variety" is a non-count noun referring to several possible objects.
4) Which is proper? "I'd appreciate your paying the treasurer" or "I'd appreciate you paying the treasurer"?
GRAMMARCHECK: Your first example is correct--"your paying the treasurer." A pronoun appearing before a gerund should be in the possessive case.
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QUESTION: Is there a difference between these two statements?
#1: I dreamed of Africa.
#2: I dreamt of Africa.
Thanks a lot!
GRAMMARCHECK: Yes--the spelling. Both words are the correct past tense of "dream."
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