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| Tips & Advice Share your tips, tricks and advice. |
07-15-2006, 04:37 PM
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#1
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Prolific Writer
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Baton Rouge, LA
Gender: Male
Posts: 464
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How should these two clauses be separated?
"Guns don't kill people, people kill people."
I've seen the above phrase most commonly in that form, separated by a comma. But is that correct, or should it be a semi or a period instead?
If you say that that the comma is correct, can you provide an explanation? Thanks.
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07-15-2006, 04:48 PM
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#2
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Member
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 17
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You can use a semicolon to connect them, if you like.
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07-15-2006, 04:49 PM
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#3
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Prolific Writer
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Baton Rouge, LA
Gender: Male
Posts: 464
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by colorsoundkid
You can use a semicolon to connect them, if you like.
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I know that, but I am wondering whether or not the comma is also correct. |
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07-15-2006, 06:17 PM
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#4
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Wordsmith
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: South-east UK
Gender: Male
Posts: 5,883
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the comma is more correct. It's a single sentence with a pause.
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07-15-2006, 08:05 PM
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#5
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Best Seller
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 625
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IMHO, a comma is usually more appropriate. Use a ; or a -- if you need a longer pause for whatever reason.
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07-15-2006, 08:20 PM
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#6
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Wordsmith
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Back 'home' on Tinian!
Gender: Female
Posts: 11,445
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comma, period, em dash would all be 'correct'... which you use is a matter of both personal choice and what you want to emphasize...
Quote:
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Guns don't kill people. People kill people.
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using a period makes each half of the equation stand alone and be taken with equal seriousness... that has a slightly different impact on the reader, than the more 'casual' single sentence with a comma:
Quote:
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Guns don't kill people, people kill people.
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in comparison, take a look at this version:
Quote:
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Guns don't kill people—people kill people.
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using an em dash puts a bit more emphasis on the second half...
__________________
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"You must BE the change you wish to see in the world." Gandhi
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07-16-2006, 04:23 AM
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#7
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Member
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: UK
Gender: Female
Posts: 7
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I think it should be a semi-colon because they are 2 phrases that could be sentences in their own right. "Guns don't kill people." would be a complete sentence and so would "People kill people." Therefore they should be joined by a semi-colon and not a comma.
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07-16-2006, 06:08 AM
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#8
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Prolific Writer
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 445
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I agree with pumpkin. Because both parts are sentences in their own right, then sticking them together with a comma is incorrect. A semicolon would be more appropriate.
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07-16-2006, 09:49 PM
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#9
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Wordsmith
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Back 'home' on Tinian!
Gender: Female
Posts: 11,445
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you're right in that a semicolon would be appropriate... i only ignored that alternative because, as most here know, i'm not overly fond of using the pesky li'l things and see so many of them used improperly, i prefer to pretend they don't exist  ...
__________________
For 100% free writing help/mentoring:
www.saysmom.com
"You must BE the change you wish to see in the world." Gandhi
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