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Goronsky Posted 11 years ago
Grammar

Are these comma splices?

• Are these technically comma splices—yes or no?

Let’s face it, truth is sometimes stranger than fiction.

Trust me, I am disgusted by her.

I am disgusted by her, trust me.

Winning isn't everything, it's the only thing.

---------------

• Should I punctuate them like this (with the semicolon) instead—yes or no?

Let’s face it; truth is sometimes stranger than fiction.

Trust me; I am disgusted by her.

I am disgusted by her; trust me.

Winning isn't everything; it's the only thing.

---------------

• Can the dashes be used as an alternative to the semicolons—yes or no?

Let’s face it—truth is sometimes stranger than fiction.

Trust me—I am disgusted by her.

I am disgusted by her—trust me.

Winning isn't everything—it's the only thing.

Thanks.
  

Top answer

Pick your manual of style or have it thrust upon you. Then stick with it. "Let's face it," and "Trust me" are known as parenthetical elements.

— Deadrat

  • Pick your manual of style or have it thrust upon you.
  • Then stick with it.
  • "Let's face it," and "Trust me" are known as parenthetical elements.
  • If they're short, like your examples, set them off with commas.
  • " is a comma splice to be cured with a semicolon.
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1 Answers
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Pick your manual of style or have it thrust upon you. Then stick with it.

"Let's face it," and "Trust me" are known as parenthetical elements. If they're short, like your examples, set them off with commas. For longer ones, uses dashes:

"It would be better -- and I tell you this for your own good and for free -- far better, that you had never been born than you turn in an arti
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