In written English usage, a comma splice or comma fault[1][2] is the use of a comma to join two independent clauses. For example:
It is nearly half past five, we cannot reach town before dark.[a]
The comma splice is sometimes used in literary writing to convey a particular mood of informality. In the United States it is usually considered an error in English writing style. Some authorities on English usage consider comma splices appropriate in limited situations, such as informal writing or with short similar phrases.[4][5]
The gate swung apart, the bridge fell, the portcullis was drawn up.[7]
Comma splices are similar to run-on sentences, which join two independent clauses without any punctuation and without a coordinating conjunction such as and, butfor, 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 as a special type of run-on sentence.[6] According to Garner's Modern English Usage:
[M]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 object.[6]
Comma splices often arise when writers use conjunctive adverbs (such as furthermore, however, or moreover) to separate two independent clauses instead of using a coordinating conjunction.[8]
In literature
Comma splices are also occasionally used in fiction, poetry, and other forms of literature to convey a particular mood or informal style. Some authors use commas to separate short clauses only.[1] The comma splice is more commonly found in works from the 18th and 19th century, when written prose mimicked speech more closely.[9]
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: I have the bed still, it is in every way suitable for the old house where I live now (E. Jolley); Marcus ... was of course already quite a famous man, Ludens had even heard of him from friends at Cambridge (I. Murdoch).[10]
Journalist Oliver Kamm writes of novelist Jane Austen's use of the comma splice, "Tastes in punctuation are not constant. It makes no sense to accuse Jane Austen of incorrect use of the comma, as no one would have levelled this charge against her at the time. Her conventions of usage were not ours."[9]
The author and journalist Lynne Truss writes in Eats, Shoots & Leaves 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."[11] Citing Samuel Beckett, E. M. Forster, and Somerset Maugham, 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."[11]
Bridge, Deborah (2009). "The S.P.L.I.C.E. of Life?". In Patterson, Diana (ed.). Harry Potter's World Wide Influence. Cambridge Scholars Publishing. ISBN9781443816281.
"The dreaded comma splice". The Economist. 10 January 2012.
External links
The Elements of Style: full text of Strunk's 1918 edition
March 05, 2023
comma, splice, written, english, usage, comma, splice, comma, fault, comma, join, independent, clauses, example, nearly, half, past, five, cannot, reach, town, before, dark, comma, splice, sometimes, used, literary, writing, convey, particular, mood, informali. In written English usage a comma splice or comma fault 1 2 is the use of a comma to join two independent clauses For example It is nearly half past five we cannot reach town before dark a The comma splice is sometimes used in literary writing to convey a particular mood of informality In the United States it is usually considered an error in English writing style Some authorities on English usage consider comma splices appropriate in limited situations such as informal writing or with short similar phrases 4 5 Contents 1 Overview 2 In literature 3 Notes 4 References 5 Further reading 6 External linksOverview EditComma splices are rare in most published writing but are common among inexperienced writers of English 1 6 The original 1918 edition of The Elements of Style by William Strunk Jr advises using a semicolon not a comma to join two grammatically complete clauses except when the clauses are very short and similar in form for example The gate swung apart the bridge fell the portcullis was drawn up 7 Comma splices are similar to run on sentences which join two independent clauses without any punctuation and without a coordinating conjunction such as and but for 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 as a special type of run on sentence 6 According to Garner s Modern English Usage M 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 object 6 Comma splices often arise when writers use conjunctive adverbs such as furthermore however or moreover to separate two independent clauses instead of using a coordinating conjunction 8 In literature EditComma splices are also occasionally used in fiction poetry and other forms of literature to convey a particular mood or informal style Some authors use commas to separate short clauses only 1 The comma splice is more commonly found in works from the 18th and 19th century when written prose mimicked speech more closely 9 Fowler s Modern English Usage describes the use of the comma splice by the authors Elizabeth Jolley and Iris Murdoch 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 I have the bed still it is in every way suitable for the old house where I live now E Jolley Marcus was of course already quite a famous man Ludens had even heard of him from friends at Cambridge I Murdoch 10 Journalist Oliver Kamm writes of novelist Jane Austen s use of the comma splice Tastes in punctuation are not constant It makes no sense to accuse Jane Austen of incorrect use of the comma as no one would have levelled this charge against her at the time Her conventions of usage were not ours 9 The author and journalist Lynne Truss writes in Eats Shoots amp Leaves 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 11 Citing Samuel Beckett E M Forster and Somerset Maugham 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 11 Notes Edit Examples are adapted from the online public domain 1918 edition of The Elements of Style by William Strunk Jr 3 References Edit a b c Wilson Kenneth 2005 The Columbia Guide to Standard American English Columbia University Press p 102 ISBN 9780585041483 Follett Wilson Wensberg Erik 1998 Modern American Usage A Guide Macmillan p 269 ISBN 9780809001392 Strunk William 1918 The Elements of Style New York Harcourt Brace and Company via Project Gutenberg To Splice or Not to Splice The MLA Style Center 2017 03 28 Retrieved 2020 12 10 Comma Splice Learn How to Avoid It Grammarly 2016 09 26 Retrieved 2020 12 10 a b c Garner Bryan A 2016 Garner s Modern English Usage Oxford University Press p 803 ISBN 9780190491482 Strunk William 1999 First edition 1918 Elementary Rules of Usage The Elements of Style New York Bartleby Buckley Joanne 2003 Checkmate a writing reference for Canadians Scarborough Ont Thomson Nelson ISBN 0 176 22440 8 a b Kamm Oliver 2016 Accidence Will Happen A Recovering Pedant s Guide to English Language and Style Pegasus Books p 152 ISBN 9781681771892 Burchfield R W ed 1996 The New Fowler s Modern English Usage 3rd ed Oxford Oxford University Press p 163 ISBN 0 19 869126 2 a b Truss Lynne 2003 That ll do comma Eats Shoots amp Leaves London Profile Books p 88 ISBN 1 86197 612 7 Further reading EditBridge Deborah 2009 The S P L I C E of Life In Patterson Diana ed Harry Potter s World Wide Influence Cambridge Scholars Publishing ISBN 9781443816281 The dreaded comma splice The Economist 10 January 2012 External links EditThe Elements of Style full text of Strunk s 1918 edition Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Comma splice amp oldid 1113989544, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
