Flash Fiction Chronicles

I’m trying to remember what I know about comma-splices without getting out of my chair.  It’s been a while since I had to think about it,  let alone explain it.  (I know.  I don’t HAVE to explain it.  But it’s Wednesday and I need to post a post).

A comma slice comes under the heading of “run-on sentence.”  There are a couple kinds of run-on sentences as I recall, but I think a comma splice comes into being when a comma tries to create a sentence from two clauses where two clauses don’t exist.

A comma alone isn’t strong enough to be used between two clauses, but should only be used between a clause and a phrase.

Let me back up.

A clause has the same weight as a sentence in that it contains a subject and a verb and is a complete thought. A sentence is a clause with a period at the end. One complete thought. It can stand on its own.

Two clauses create a compound sentence. Both sides of the punctuation are complete and each could stand on its own, but if the writer of a sentence decides she wants a softer connection than a period, a comma won’t cut it.  Two clauses need a hard connection.

Let me say that again: If there is a strong divide between one complete thought and the next complete thought, it requires period or punctuation equal to a period.

A period is a hard connection.  And if the writer decides he wants a softer “hard divide,”  he turns to colons, semi-colons, and commas mated with conjunctions, one of the FANBOY set, “but” and “and” the most commonly used.

A phrase is like a clause, kind of, but it’s not a complete thought because it’s missing either subject, verb, or both depending on what kind of phrase it is. A phrase cannot stand on its own. It needs the rest of the thought to be considered a clause or a sentence.  It must be attached to or shored up by a clause.

There are exceptions to this rule. In some progressive and/or experimental fiction, incomplete ideas are acceptable. Rhythm and pacing is often more important to a writer than following certain rules.

Grammar exists, however, for the sake of clarity. If I break a rule, I have to ask myself, will the reader still understand what I am saying? If the answer is “YES,” then I go for it. If it’s “NO,” I refer back to the rules.

Now have I totally confused everyone out there?