Day 5: Elements of Style

Rule: "Do not join independent clauses with a comma"

Rather one should join independent clauses with a comma and a conjunction, or preferably, with a semicolon for the sake of brevity. Additionally, one could correct the problem by replacing the comma with a period and break the sentence into two. We prefer, however, the former two, for the convey a greater sense of connection between the two ideas. Examples of correct usage include:

Joel is a strong defender; he always stops the ball.

Davis moved to Columbus, and the Texas weather moved with him.

It was Friday. Everyone wanted to get together.

An exception to the rule occurs when the sentence contains two short clauses of similar form. As in the common idiom:

"Here today, gone tomorrow."

As well as in Little Bunny Foo Foo's rewording

"Hare today, goon tomorrow