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Paula looks at comma splices.
Recently, I’ve read a couple of books with dozens (if not
hundreds!) of what I call ‘run-on sentences’, which are also referred to as ‘comma
splices’. Basically, this is when two independent sentences are ‘connected’
with a comma.
For example: Paula
loves Ireland, she has been there many times.
I hope that, like me, you are cringing, because all my
instincts say this is incorrect – and this is confirmed by every grammar guide.
Independent sentences like this should not have a comma
between them. They should have either a full stop (period), or a conjunction,
or even a semi-colon. NOT a comma!
One source I checked suggested that comma splices were a
common error made by ‘inexperienced writers’. However, the novels I read were
not written by newbie writers who hadn’t had their work checked by an editor
before self-publishing. Both had independent publishers – and therefore, one
assumes, competent editors. But both novels contained not just single comma
splices. Often they had three or more independent clauses with only commas
between them e.g.
Charlie gazed in
admiration at Jane, he was looking forward to dinner with her, they had not
been out together for weeks, who knew when they would again.
I’ve adapted this rather than quoted it directly – but it’s
an example of what occurs frequently in both novels. And, apart from the comma
splices, shouldn’t the final ‘independent sentence’ have a question mark at the
end anyway?
This leads me to wonder
(a) whether the authors are totally ignorant of basic
grammar rules.
(b) whether these novels have actually received any editing
(despite one of them being with a fairly high profile publisher)
(c) perhaps more worrying in my opinion, whether today’s editors
are ignoring a fundamental grammar error.
What do you think?
P.S. I’m happy to report that most novels I have read
recently do not contain this error!
I'm learning!
ReplyDeleteI know! :-)
DeleteOh Paula. That just makes my eye twitch. lol I try not to pass judgment. I mean, we're all human. So if there's one or two, then I'd probably think just an error, but a whole book filled with them drives me bonkers. It feels like lazy writing and/or editing. Though I have noticed that trend, that *some* (not all) of the bigger authors' books are starting to have more errors like this in them. I find it disappointing. Often it puts me off the author. But then again, being a writer, I'm a picky reader by nature.
ReplyDeleteJoanne, I'm the same. I can ignore a few, but not when the book is full of them. and not when 4 'sentences' have commas between them. I think I was cringing on every page!
DeleteMy biggest fault with this is using 'then' as a conjunction and joining two sentences. Apparently I did it a lot when I first started writing. It wasn't until my third full-length that an editor commented on it and told me not to do it.
ReplyDeleteI think there's so much pressure out there nowadays to keep cranking out books to satisfy readers that sometimes standards slip. Which is definitely not a good thing.
Must admit I've been guilty of the same thing, Deb, but I've learned to restrict my use of 'then'. It's still better than no conjunction at all, though!
DeleteGreat post, Paula. I have many comma issues, but now I'll have to watch for this one too. In fact, I think I remember something just like what you're describing in my WIP last night! Yikes!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Dixie. Hope this helps you with your commas (or rather, when not to use commas!)
DeleteThis is very timely for me. :) It's definitely an error, but I think sometimes, editors who want more active writing, instead of passive, mistakenly change sentences, thinking it's stylistic rather than ungrammatical. My best guess. But ugh!
ReplyDeleteIMO it's nothing to do with active/passive. It is simply wrong :-D
DeleteI was taught it had to be ", and then….."
ReplyDeleteI cringe when I read then as a conjunction, but it's becoming so common that readers seems to accept it.
ReplyDeleteI sometimes use 'and then'(but not 'then' as a conjunction). Wherever I can, I try to get rid of'then'.
Delete