Going over final galley...

Status
Not open for further replies.
Branwyn

Branwyn

Print release:Sept.1,'09
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Jan 8, 2006
Messages
1,770
Reaction score
548
Location
Purgatory's Pit of Doom
Need help. I have to go over the final galley for Upside, and I can't believe there are so many errors. Isn't the rule, when using the word and if it's connecting two complete clauses there should be a comma before and?


“He’s a player and he’s cheating on her right now.”

Shouldn't it be:

“He’s a player, and he’s cheating on her right now.”

Or because they're short clauses I can get away without the comma?

Is it different for dialogue?
Or do I have the rule backwards?

 
FennelGiraffe

FennelGiraffe

It's green they say
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Oct 11, 2006
Messages
1,704
Reaction score
445
Location
San Antonio
You have the rule correct. A comma is used before a coordinating conjunction joining two independent clauses. However, when the clauses are very short and the conjunction is "and" or "or", omitting the comma is also acceptable.

In dialog, the words may be ungrammatical, but IMO the punctuation should be as close to standard as possible.
 
Chase

Chase

It Takes All of Us to End Racism
Kind Benefactor
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Jan 13, 2008
Messages
9,239
Reaction score
2,320
Location
Oregon, USA
FennelGiraffe said:
In dialog, the words may be ungrammatical, but IMO the punctuation should be as close to standard as possible.
Click to expand...

I agree with all of your good help to Branwyn, especially that above.

I've never understand poor punctuation in dialog when that's where it's often needed most.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.