8
UPDATE
Administrative Assistant's
UPDATE
Beware the comma splice,
especially with however
By George Pearson
AAU Editor
A frequent comma-use error is
to splice two independent clauses
together without the use of a coor-
dinating conjunction (and/but/or/
nor/yet).
(Quick grammar lesson: An
independent clause has a subject
and verb and can stand on its own.
Examples:
The signs should have
made clear that visiting hours
were restricted. Visitors seemed to
come at all hours. These are both
independent clauses�)
The error: The signs should
have made clear that visiting
hours were restricted, however,
visitors seemed to come at all
hours.
This kind of awkward splice
often occurs with the use of
however.
Is it connected to the first clause or
the second? The comma before how-
ever causes the reader to stumble.
Fix it with a semicolon or a pe-
riod:
The signs should have made
clear that visiting hours were re-
stricted; however, visitors seemed
to come at all hours.
OR
The signs should have made
clear that visiting hours were re-
stricted. However, visitors seemed
to come at all hours.
Fix it also by joining the clauses
with a coordinating conjunction:
The signs should have made
clear that visiting hours were
restricted, yet (or but) visitors
seemed to come at all hours.
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