Commas in Compound Sentences: Being Outmoded?

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mrswoodlee
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Commas in Compound Sentences: Being Outmoded?

Post by mrswoodlee »

I've noticed in several published works I've read recently that authors are consistently leaving out the comma in a compound sentence, so that it reads, "He cooked and she cleaned," instead of, "He cooked, and she cleaned." Not just here and there, but throughout each book. I was taught always to use a comma to split the two halves of a compound sentence, but I've seen examples enough lately that I'm starting to wonder if writers/editors are doing away with it.

Has anyone else noticed this? Is the compound sentence comma being outmoded? I hope not, as I think it adds clarity in many cases, just as the Oxford comma does.
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Post by jgraney8 »

I haven't noticed the commas being left out, but I will look for it in the future. The guideline you give is the common one for compound sentences. I have seen a sentence like "He cooked and she cleaned" considered an exception because the two clauses are short. I once received an editing textbook in which the author, a friend of mine, did not use commas in compound sentences. Needless to say, we never used that book.
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Post by Rpmartine »

I have also seen the command left out with short clauses. However, I would expect to see the comma included with longer clauses.
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Post by quentaje »

I've noticed the comma being left out in other places it should be included, even in (what seem like) well edited books. The example you gave is kind of shocking; the sentence looks particularly lacking. Sometimes, though, in my own writing, I'll skip over some of the places I know might need a comma because of pacing, especially in someone's dialogue.
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Post by kaymontacell »

I notice that, and I flag those sentences in my grammar reviews on the site. I am not a big fan of leaving the comma out; it also helps the reader understand where connected clauses begin and end.
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Post by Yssimnar »

mrswoodlee wrote: 29 May 2018, 11:05
Has anyone else noticed this? Is the compound sentence comma being outmoded? I hope not, as I think it adds clarity in many cases, just as the Oxford comma does.
Are there any other examples showing longer sentences being compounded without the comma?
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Post by 56lives »

I think that these authors are following old grammar rules in which people were taught that one cannot put a comma followed by an and. I have been making the same mistake in my report writing. Learning does not end in class. It goes on and on.
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Post by FictionLover »

When I recently brushed up on commas, I read that a comma may be omitted in a short sentence.
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Post by MsTri »

56lives wrote: 05 Sep 2018, 03:40 I think that these authors are following old grammar rules in which people were taught that one cannot put a comma followed by an and. I have been making the same mistake in my report writing. Learning does not end in class. It goes on and on.
I'm one of those people who was taught NOT to put commas before "and", TO [always] put a comma before "but", etc. After being dinged for various things, I learned the so-called "new" style and use it for my reviews, but I still do it old style in all of my other writings, as I absolutely abhor the way sentences look written under these new rules.
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Post by RGraf »

Per the Chicago Manual of Style, small compound sentences no longer have to have the comma before the conjunction. Not comfortable doing that yet.
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Post by mrswoodlee »

FictionLover wrote: 05 Sep 2018, 05:43 When I recently brushed up on commas, I read that a comma may be omitted in a short sentence.
That's good to know. The example I gave was one I made up to illustrate my meaning for those who might not understand exactly what I meant by a "compound sentence." The actual instances I've been encountering have been in longer sentences. I have seen it often enough lately in recent, mainstream books, but I'll have to watch for a better example I can share here. :techie-studyingbrown:
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Post by mrswoodlee »

RGraf wrote: 21 Sep 2018, 15:09 Per the Chicago Manual of Style, small compound sentences no longer have to have the comma before the conjunction. Not comfortable doing that yet.
Haha, I don't think I will be, either. I've seen it a lot in longer sentences; the one I used as an example was just one I made up to illustrate the concept of a compound sentence, for those who might not know the terms, even though they understand the rule. The actual "offenses" I've seen have been of larger size.
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Post by mrswoodlee »

jgraney8 wrote: 30 May 2018, 16:20 I haven't noticed the commas being left out, but I will look for it in the future. The guideline you give is the common one for compound sentences. I have seen a sentence like "He cooked and she cleaned" considered an exception because the two clauses are short. I once received an editing textbook in which the author, a friend of mine, did not use commas in compound sentences. Needless to say, we never used that book.
LOL I should say not! :snooty:

The example I gave was just to illustrate my meaning; the actual examples I've encountered are lengthier sentences. Let me know if you notice a book that has a case of the no-compound-sentence-commas. :wink:
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Post by mrswoodlee »

56lives wrote: 05 Sep 2018, 03:40 I think that these authors are following old grammar rules in which people were taught that one cannot put a comma followed by an and. I have been making the same mistake in my report writing. Learning does not end in class. It goes on and on.
It does indeed; I learn new grammar rules all the time. More so than new rules, now I am going back and learning the exceptions, which can be just as important. :)
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Post by mrswoodlee »

Yssimnar wrote: 04 Aug 2018, 17:09
mrswoodlee wrote: 29 May 2018, 11:05
Has anyone else noticed this? Is the compound sentence comma being outmoded? I hope not, as I think it adds clarity in many cases, just as the Oxford comma does.
Are there any other examples showing longer sentences being compounded without the comma?
Oh, yes. The example I gave was just one I invented to illustrate my meaning. The actual examples I've found have been much lengthier sentences. I'll keep my eyes peeled for one to share here. :techie-studyingbrown:
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