165:, and other forms of literature to convey a particular mood or informal style. Some authors use commas to separate short clauses only. The comma splice is more commonly found in works from the 18th and 19th century, when written prose mimicked speech more closely.
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published writing, such as commercially published works, where someone other than the author has proofread the work before it is published. Self-published works, if carefully examined and corrected by someone with language skills, can qualify as professionally
231:, she says: "Done knowingly by an established writer, the comma splice is effective, poetic, dashing. Done equally knowingly by people who are not published writers, it can look weak or presumptuous. Done ignorantly by ignorant people, it is awful."
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We are all accustomed to the ... conjoined sentences that turn up from children or from our less literate friends... Curiously, this habit of writing comma-joined sentences is not uncommon in both older and present-day fiction. Modern examples:
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ost usage authorities accept comma splices when (1) the clauses are short and closely related, (2) there is no danger of a miscue, and (3) the context is informal ... But even when all three criteria are met, some readers are likely to
118:, etc. Sometimes the two types of sentences are treated differently based on the presence or absence of a comma, but most writers consider the comma splice a special type of run-on sentence. According to
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notes an exception to the semicolon rule, preferring a comma when the clauses are "very short and alike in form," or when the sentence's tone is "easy and conversational." For example:
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that "so many highly respected writers observe the splice comma that a rather unfair rule emerges on this one: only do it if you're famous." Citing
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The comma splice is sometimes used in literary writing to convey a particular mood of informality. It is usually considered an error in
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consider comma splices appropriate in limited situations, such as informal writing or with short similar phrases.
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Marcus ... was of course already quite a famous man, Ludens had even heard of him from friends at
Cambridge
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Comma splices are rare in most published writing, but are common among inexperienced writers of
English.
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I have the bed still, it is in every way suitable for the old house where I live now
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Accidence Will Happen: A Recovering Pedant's Guide to
English Language and Style
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This example is adapted from the online, public-domain 1918 edition of
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The gate swung apart, the bridge fell, the portcullis was drawn up.
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It is nearly half past five, we cannot reach town before dark.
556:(3rd ed.). Oxford: Oxford University Press. p.
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By "published writing," this article is referring to
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describes the use of the comma splice by the authors
341:. New York: Harcourt, Brace and Company – via
465:(fourth ed.). Needham Heights, Massachusetts:
493:Checkmate : a writing reference for Canadians
83:, or writing the clauses as separate sentences.
284:The Columbia Guide to Standard American English
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157:Comma splices are also occasionally used in
133:Comma splices often arise when writers use
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16:Use of a comma to join independent clauses
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308:Follett, Wilson; Wensberg, Erik (1998).
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461:(2000) . "Elementary Rules of Usage".
553:The New Fowler's Modern English Usage
496:. Scarborough, Ont.: Thomson Nelson.
170:The New Fowler's Modern English Usage
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671:: full text of Strunk's 1918 edition
382:"Comma Splice—Learn How to Avoid It"
629:Harry Potter's World Wide Influence
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631:. Cambridge Scholars Publishing.
595:. London: Profile Books. p.
526:. Pegasus Books. p. 152.
311:Modern American Usage: A Guide
81:grammatically complete clauses
1:
627:. In Patterson, Diana (ed.).
430:Garner's Modern English Usage
357:"To Splice or Not to Splice?"
121:Garner's Modern English Usage
103:without any punctuation or a
95:Comma splices are similar to
19:In written English usage, a
625:"The S.P.L.I.C.E. of Life?"
79:, not a comma, to join two
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647:"The dreaded comma splice"
314:. Macmillan. p. 269.
209:The author and journalist
202:wrote in 2016 of novelist
593:Eats, Shoots & Leaves
427:Garner, Bryan A. (2016).
216:Eats, Shoots & Leaves
623:Bridge, Deborah (2009).
490:Buckley, Joanne (2003).
335:Strunk, William (1918).
281:Wilson, Kenneth (2005).
105:coordinating conjunction
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47:. Some authorities on
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668:The Elements of Style
520:Kamm, Oliver (2016).
463:The Elements of Style
338:The Elements of Style
250:The Elements of Style
85:The Elements of Style
64:The Elements of Style
45:English writing style
361:The MLA Style Center
589:"That'll do, comma"
135:conjunctive adverbs
101:independent clauses
33:independent clauses
655:. 10 January 2012.
255:William Strunk Jr.
69:William Strunk Jr.
548:Burchfield, R. W.
467:Allyn & Bacon
343:Project Gutenberg
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392:. Retrieved
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690:Punctuation
211:Lynne Truss
204:Jane Austen
200:Oliver Kamm
198:Journalist
139:furthermore
73:E. B. White
55:Description
25:comma fault
679:Categories
394:2020-12-10
367:2020-12-10
264:References
213:writes in
387:Grammarly
137:(such as
77:semicolon
587:(2003).
147:moreover
107:such as
159:fiction
143:however
129:object.
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163:poetry
412:done.
235:Notes
145:, or
29:comma
633:ISBN
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528:ISBN
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435:ISBN
316:ISBN
289:ISBN
177:and
71:and
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253:by
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23:or
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