Re: RE: Silly but important to me

[Susan W. Gallagher <sgallagher5 -at- cox -dot- net>]

Well, yes, you're right; the "comma then" construction is
common and colloquial, but in point of fact, it's a comma
splice and verboten by grammar purists. (I looked this up
a couple of years ago when I encountered it in an HP style
guide, and it stuck!)  <g>

Grammatically correct versions are:

Click the button; then go get coffee. (semicolon)
or
Click the button, and then go get coffee. (comma + 
coordinating conjunction)

Here's a link for reference:

http://www.stlcc.cc.mo.us/mc/support/cwc/Finhand/splices.html

That said, the "comma then" construction has become so
ubiquitous it might as well be correct. <g>

-Sue Gallagher
> 
> From: John Wilcox <JWilcox -at- zetron -dot- com>

> 
> By the way, I don't understand the reasoning for using "and then" together.
> I see it every so often, but I don't understand it. I always say:
> 
> "Highlight the item you want to work with, then press F4." Seems to me
> that's the way people talk most often.
> 



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