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JJDouglas Posted 10 years ago
Grammar
Any comma splices here?
Are the following considered comma splices? I think they are, but I see them (or constructions very similar to them) in writing all the time. If they are not, could you please explain to me how they are exceptions. Thank you.
"Her office is on the second floor, I believe."
"You can never have too many friends, that's what I say."
"I'll tell you what, why don't we go home now and worry about it in the morning."
"It was, I thought, a very poor report."
"Her office is on the second floor, I believe."
"You can never have too many friends, that's what I say."
"I'll tell you what, why don't we go home now and worry about it in the morning."
"It was, I thought, a very poor report."
Top answer
#1. " It is a complete sentence with an inversion of the verbal complement. #2.
- #1.
- " It is a complete sentence with an inversion of the verbal complement.
- #2.
- Use a semicolon.
- #3.
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8 Answers
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#1. The first clause is the complement of "believe." It is a complete sentence with an inversion of the verbal complement.
#2. Use a semicolon.
#3. I would use an em-dash, not a comma.
#4. "I thought" is a parenthetical element set off by commas. It is not a comma splice because you can't put a period after "was."
#2. Use a semicolon.
#3. I would use an em-dash, not a comma.
#4. "I thought" is a parenthetical element set off by commas. It is not a comma splice because you can't put a period after "was."
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Hi,
Thank you for your reply and suggestions.
I have thought of one more, which tends to be a popular expression:
"You name it, I've been there."
This technically is a comma splice, I think, but the use of anything other than a comma seems to be too much of a separation. Am I right in thinking that there is an implied "if" at the beginning of the phrase? Theref
Thank you for your reply and suggestions.
I have thought of one more, which tends to be a popular expression:
"You name it, I've been there."
This technically is a comma splice, I think, but the use of anything other than a comma seems to be too much of a separation. Am I right in thinking that there is an implied "if" at the beginning of the phrase? Theref
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JJDouglasAm I right in thinking that there is an implied "if" at the beginning of the phrase?I agree.
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OK, last one:
"Oh yes, just remembered to ask, what was the name of that bakery you got the cakes from?"
I don't know if "just remembered to ask" is independent as it's missing the "I," but it's sort of implied. After "ask," would you put a comma, colon, or an em dash?
Thank you.
"Oh yes, just remembered to ask, what was the name of that bakery you got the cakes from?"
I don't know if "just remembered to ask" is independent as it's missing the "I," but it's sort of implied. After "ask," would you put a comma, colon, or an em dash?
Thank you.
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JJDouglasI don't know if "just remembered to ask" is independent as it's missing the "I,"A missing subject is a grammatical error.
The question is a direct quote. So the rules of direct speech apply.
Oh yes, I just remembered to ask, "What was the name of that bakery you got the cakes from?"
But you can make it indire
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What if the whole sentence is meant as direct speech (like something someone would say to a friend as a last thought before leaving) and you took out the "to ask"?
"Oh yes, I just remembered, what was the name of the bakery you got the cakes from?"
"Oh yes, I just remembered, what was the name of the bakery you got the cakes from?"
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JJDouglas"Oh yes, I just remembered, what was the name of the bakery you got the cakes from?"Much conversation is choppy and fragmented, with missing words filled in by the other party.
As writing, it just won't do. It is too close to the correct statement:
Oh yes, I just remembered what the name of the bakery you got the cakes from was.
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OK, I see; It would be too confusing. So even when trying to imitate informal speech, would you recommend to avoid that particular construction?
Could turning it into a noun phrase help avoid confusion?
"Oh yes, something I remembered I was going to ask, what was the name of the bakery you got the cakes from?"
Could turning it into a noun phrase help avoid confusion?
"Oh yes, something I remembered I was going to ask, what was the name of the bakery you got the cakes from?"
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