#3. Reading the Elements of Style - Day 2

Today I studied about punctuation. Because I frequently confuse semicolons and commas, today's exercise was pretty helpful. :)

So, here are my study notes today. 

Rule 4. Place a comma before and or but introducing an independent clause.

Example 1. The early records of the city have disappeared, and the story of its first years can no longer be reconstructed.

Example 2. The situation is perilous, but there is still one chance of escape.

Problem: The second clause seem to be an afterthought. Also, and is very unspecific and only indicates a relation between two clauses.

--> 1. As the early records of the city have disappeared, the story of its first years can no longer be reconstructed. 

OR: Owing to the disappearance of the..., the story of its...

--> 2. Although the situation is perilous, there is still one chance of escape.

OR: In this perilous situation, there is still...

Note: A writer does not need to make sentences too uniformly compact and periodic. Loose sentences   gives an informal air and a certain relief to the reader.

Rule 5. Do not join independent clauses by a comma.

If two or more clauses, grammatically complete and not joined by a conjunction, are to form a single compound sentence, the proper mark of punctuation is a semicolon.

Example 1. Stevenson's romances are entertaining; they are full of exciting adventures.

Example 2. It is nearly half past five; we cannot reach town before dark.

You can also write two sentences.

--> 1. Stevenson's romances are entertaining. They are full of exciting adventures.

But if the conjunction is inserted, the proper mark is a comma.

--> 1. Stevenson's romances are entertaining, for they are full of exciting adventures.

If the second clause is preceded by an adverb, such as accordingly, besides, so, then, therefore, or thus, and not by a conjunction, the semicolon is still required.

Example 3. I had never been in the place before; so I had difficulty in finding my way about.

But it is best to avoid using so and replace it with as.

--> 3. As I had never been in the place before, I had difficulty in finding my way about.

Rule 6. Do not break sentences in two.

Example 1. I met them on a cruise several years ago. Coming home from Liverpool to New York.

--> replace the first period with a comma.

Note: it is okay to make an emphatic word or expression serve the purpose of a sentence.

Example 2. Again and again he called out. No reply.