comma splicing: what do you think?

[harpsichordcarrier]

now personally I don't mind a little light comma splicing, after all if it is good enough for Graham Greene et al. it is good enough for me.
However, it appears that in the assessment criteria for English, we are to mark down those who comma-splice.
Surely it is a matter of taste, in most instances?

[NightOfTheLivingThread]

What is comma splicing? Can you give example?

[PeaMcLean]

dunno. what is it?

[PortofinoPumpkin]

I have always considered that my grammar is good, but I have never heard of comma splicing. Elaboration please?

[Dottoressa]

I personally detest the habit, and I now know not to bother with Graham Greene!

When I was a university lecturer, I came down very heavily on students who went in for it...

[childrenofthecornsilk]

I know! It's when you put a comma in a sentence to separate the clauses with no conjunction.
e.g. I don't like my dog, he's a smelly idiot.
It should be
I don't like my dog, as he is a smelly idiot.

I think.

[Hathor]

What's wrong with a semi-colon
I don't like my dog; he's smelly.

[VeniVidiVickiQV]

no, I think it poor form. A semi-colon should be used - not a comma. A coordinating conjuction at the very least.

[Dottoressa]

Hurrah for Hathor!

[VeniVidiVickiQV]

Ah - you see Dottoresa uses a coordinating conjuction

Harpsi - are you trying to separate the men from the boys?

[PeaMcLean]

Where do you learn about co-ordinating conjunctions?

[Ellbell]

Another frowner-uponner here. Surely that's why the semi-colon was invented?

[childrenofthecornsilk]

Hmmm yes, my example should have a semi-colon.
I don't like my dog; he's a smelly idiot.

[VeniVidiVickiQV]

colons (and semi's) are very underrated

[RottenOtter]

yes vvvqv

i have thought the pedants threads to be veering toward mainstream of late

[PeaMcLean]

Does it matter?

[Ellbell]

Does it matter?



You come on a pedant thread and ask if it matters?

[LoopyLena]

2 seperate sentances, joined by a comma when they should be seperate sentances or have a semi-colon.

It is nearly half past five, we cannot reach town before dark.

Should be...

It is nearly half past five; we cannot reach town before dark.

Or...

It is nearly half past five. We cannot reach town before dark.

Or the other option is to change the wording...

It is nearly half past five, so we cannot reach town before dark.

Or...

As it is nearly half past five, we cannot reach town before dark.

So there endeth the lesson! (I'm not clever, I looked it up on Wikipedia!!!)

[pointygravedogger]

I don't like it

[VeniVidiVickiQV]

oh indeed nao
more folk like harpsi are required to bring back balance

[PeaMcLean]

Yup

See, I always thought language was for communication. And that includes punctuation (and yes I know there are things in this sentence that will seriously piss people off LOL)

So, why does it matter? Does it make a difference to the meaning?

[Hathor]

I don't like you calling the dog an idiot. He is just a dog.

[skyatnight]

If you use a conjunction, I don't think you need a comma, or a semi-colon, as well.

[childrenofthecornsilk]

You have not met him.

[PortofinoPumpkin]

Phew - even though I didn't know what it was, I am most relieved to know that I would not dream of doing it!

[Hathor]

Could you give him a bath?