I agree it
is a comma-splice/run-on, but what is interesting to me is the structure of the
second sentence (specifically, that it begins with a pronoun/auxiliary verb
combination). Based on my unscientific, unquantified observations, it seems
that the majority of c-s/r-o’s I see have this structure at the beginning of
the second sentence.
Although
it is incorrect strictly according to Hoyle (or Harbace or whoever), I find it
an interesting error because there is a certain logic to it – since the pronoun
is a mere reflection of the closest appropriate noun and the linking verb
essentially a lexical equal sign, the very weak beginning to the second
sentence can make it seem highly dependent on (or at least highly connected to)
the first sentence. Furthermore, this is a construction that is not uncommon in
fiction or other types of published writing. It may be incorrect, but it isn’t
(in this case) a punctuation/coordination error that renders a sentence
confusing.
So I would
say it is a comma splice, but it is also a potential watershed in the
continuing evolution of punctuation (which is, after all, a completely
human-invented thing). If not coming to a full stop isn’t confusing to the reader
and (in fact) may even continue the flow of a developing thought (although I
agree that “it doesn’t matter what differences we have, we will always . . .”
would be more clear) then perhaps it is in that murky category of puzzlements
with “the student and their errors” pronoun/antecedent dilemma.
In terms
of responding to the students, I would tell them to be aware of the
pronoun/linking verb construction (particularly if this error runs throughout
the papers). However, you might also ask why the student chose the comma –
although he/she probably won’t be able to articulate the reason in grammatical
terms, if you hear that the desire was for a certain effect in balance and
pace, then I’d let it go with a short caution. But I’m a heretic.
Maureen
Fitzpatrick
Associate
Professor, English
Johnson
County Community College
Overland
Park, KS
-----Original
Message-----
From: Paul E. Doniger
[mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Thursday, June 28, 2001 7:14
AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: A comma-splice?
Ed,
Yes, I would
consider it a comma splice. With my high school students (juniors and seniors),
however, we treate fused sentences and comma splices as "run-on
sentences." It's a question of fewer terms to learn and less time spent in
class (the curriculum is too full!).
As far as
correction of the error, it depends on the context of the situation. If it
turned up on a student's draft, I would simply draw the student's attention to
it and expect him or her to make the correction (i.e., by the time I get these
students, they SHOULD know how to correct this type of error). If I'm using
this as an example in a review lesson (and it would have to be review for this
type of problem to come up), I'd throw the question out to the class and put a
few choices on the board (hopefully they would have come up with good ones).
Then I might ask the class if there's any consensus of which one they like best
and why.
Paul
-----
Original Message -----
To: [log in to unmask]">[log in to unmask]
Sent: Thursday, June 28, 2001
5:43 AM
Subject: A
comma-splice?
I'd
appreciate your comments about the last sentence in the following. In
particular, I would like to know if you consider it a comma-splice, and, if so,
what you would do about it (if anything) in a student's writing?
With all
these people I have at least one thing in common, either hair or eye color, or
even disliking or liking the same people. It
doesn't matter what we have in common, we will always have something to talk
about.
Thanks,
Ed V.