How to avoid a comma splice

[Mike32ct]

I hate to be an English punctuation n a zi, but I see the dreaded comma splice in a LOT of posts.

As a general rule, never link two stand-alone sentences with a comma.

1. Break them up into separate sentences.

Or

2. Use a semi-colon instead of a comma.

Or

3. Use a comma and coordinating conjunction like "and" or "but."

Wrong:

I was on a date with a really hot chick, we had drinks at the bar.

Right:

I was on a date with a really hot chick. We had drinks at the bar.

Also correct:

I was on a date with a really hot chick; we had drinks at the bar.

Also correct:

I was on a date with a really hot chick, and we had drinks at the bar.


I just have one more pet peeve. It's spelled "per se," not "per say."

Thank you very much. Please exit to the right lol.

 

[sageproduct]

Thanks for the post Mike, it helped me lots. Grammar was always my least favorite subject, it gave me so much trouble lol! I'm sitting on a chair, the fridge is right next to me. I'm typing with my wrists curved upward, am I going to get carpal tunnel?

 

[sageproduct]

The grammar error I hate the most is when people type "would of" or "should of" because they don't know that it's actually a contraction of "would have" or "should have".

What drives me nuts is how prevalent such errors are in some "professional" circles. My roommate two years ago was 2 years older than me; he graduated top 10% of his class in business school and is now working a solid internship. I've seen him type emails to professors though, and I swear the guy is borderline illiterate. Fwcking ridiculous.

 

[Mike32ct]

The grammar error I hate the most is when people type "would of" or "should of" because they don't know that it's actually a contraction of "would have" or "should have".

What drives me nuts is how prevalent such errors are in some "professional" circles. My roommate two years ago was 2 years older than me; he graduated top 10% of his class in business school and is now working a solid internship. I've seen him type emails to professors though, and I swear the guy is borderline illiterate. Fwcking ridiculous.

Yeah, we could have a ten-page thread on these common errors.

 

[twentee]

and why would anyone gaf about it?

 

[Down Low]

Standard usage demands that single-letter abbreviations for common words be capitalized, as in the example: "F you, A-hole." So it's "E-mail," not "email." Also, acronyms are usually capitalized. So it's "GAF" not "gaf."

 

[ARrocket]

I think "email" is becoming acceptable; probably just because so many people use it.

http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/e-mail-or-email.aspx

Mike, was this your pillow talk with that English teacher in Vegas?

 

[sageproduct]

Mike, was this your pillow talk with that English teacher in Vegas?

Lol