C4 Don’t
join two sentences with merely a comma (or worse, with no punctuation at all). |
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Here are six ways to correct this problem: |
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Solutions |
Correct Examples |
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Solution A: Make a compound sentence by using a comma and a conjunction. |
He tried to climb the fence, it was just too hard. |
He tried to climb the fence, but it was just too hard. |
Solution B: Separate the halves into two complete sentences. |
He tried to climb the fence, it was just too hard. |
He tried to climb the fence. It was just too hard. |
Solution C: If the halves are similar, make a compound sentence with just a semicolon. (Don’t use a conjunction with a semicolon.) |
When he was young, he fell for everything, when he was old, he trusted nothing. He loved the little dog, she loathed the wretched thing. |
When he was young, he fell for everything; when he was old, he trusted nothing. He loved the little dog; she loathed the wretched thing. |
Solution D: A writer may use a long dash to join a long appositive to the end of a sentence. |
She had had a narrow escape, it was an experience she would never forget. He stepped back and observed the result, it was a thing of beauty. |
She had had a narrow escape – an experience she would never forget. He stepped back and observed the result – a thing of beauty. |
Solution E: If a complete sentence introduces a list, a writer may use a colon (:). |
When I saw this boat I thought of two things, first, that there was a way off this accursed island, but second, that I was no longer alone. |
When I saw this boat I thought of two things: first, that there was a way off this accursed island, but second, that I was no longer alone. |
Solution F: Change the wording to make one of the halves depend on the other one. |
I squeezed myself behind the plywood, I could hear the breath of the killer searching for me. |
I squeezed myself behind the plywood, listening closely to the breath of the killer searching for me. |