Comma Splice? Hmmm . . . What?

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college, comma splice, FANBOYS, grammar, musings, run-on sentenes, writing

This semester I am teaching a college course – Writing: The Editing Process – and my students are learning the foundation to be effective writers. We’re covering grammar and editing while the coursework focuses on non-fiction assignments: profiles, TV reviews, business letters and how-to manuals. Proper grammar is a critically important tool for success in school, work and life, and today’s class was all about the grammar.

I think I heard a groan as we started our discussion on the comma splice. This concept seemed far more painful to grasp than correcting run-on sentences and using subordinators. To avoid a comma splice, do you recall a comma goes before the conjunction when two complete clauses are joined but not between a complete sentence and a fragment? Or do you remember calling conjunctions FANBOYS (For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet and So)?

Yawn. I am no exception – these rules can and are boring to learn and practice but they’re vitally important – along with understanding parts of speech and punctuation – to become a good writer.

We are judged, sometimes quite severely, by the words we use and the way we use them in both our speaking and writing. Misused grammar betrays us. The way we talk and write reflects our background, education and ability to communicate. Often the first impression someone may have of you is because of your writing: if your cover letter and resume sport several typos or inconsistent punctuation, an HR rep or hiring manager might deduce you have a lack of attention to detail and pass you over for a job.

Throughout my career, I’ve had to be effective and flexible in my non-fiction writing to present material that is accurate, clear and concise to a variety of audiences. I’ve never been perfect and struggle with remembering all the rules, so I keep my “Elements of Style” book nearby as a resource. As my class learns and practices good grammar, it’s a reminder of how important the basics are in order to be successful in your writing.

Memories of summer

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bike, ice cream truck, musings, summer, swings

It’s only four more days until the end of summer. I watch the thermometer drop degree by degree and the days shorten minute by minute. I am reminded of things that made summer so wonderful. Little things I will miss. Things I may never do again, not in the fall, winter or spring, but only on a wonderful summer day.

Early morning just after the sunrise. An open window. Sunlight filtering through the blinds. A breeze pushing at the curtains. Birds perched on branches in the birch tree, chirping a wake up song.

Lying on the carpet in front of the television for an hour watching cartoons, wearing my light cotton pajamas with the faded flower pattern.

A late breakfast of Cheerios in milk with a teaspoon or two of sugar mounded at the bottom in the bowl.

A bike ride over uneven sidewalk squares down the block to my friend’s house to ask if she can go to the pool in the afternoon.

In the park, stopping at the mammoth swing sets with the thick metal chains and black seats made of durable plastic. Pumping and swinging so diligently, so methodically, so hard the swing extends fully out and up, horizontal to the top of the swing set. A second to decide to jump.

The pure joy of hearing the tinkling music of the ice cream truck a block away. Push up. Bomb pop. Drumstick. Ice cream sandwich. A difficult decision on an easy day.

Rushing through dinner with the family because every minute spent outside is never enough time.

The thrill of hiding behind a bush next to the neighbor’s porch, waiting for the right moment to jump out, kick the can and free my friends from jail.

The first street light flickering on, knowing Mom will soon call me home.

 

 

Weekly Photo Challenge: Near and Far

Tags

memory, near and far, north carolina, oakwood cemetary, photography, postaday, raleigh

Memory House at Historic Oakwood Cemetary, Raleigh, N.C.