@SomeGuy:

Well I've been thinking about it and both languages have the same use for commas, such as the comma splices and the very first example you gave. I think what made me confused on that day was the very last example, you know the one where we can "break the rules" of grammar, we also do that too.
I think I should have read it more carefully on that particular day, now it all makes sense, heh.

@Allamorph:

I also notice that this habit seems to happen extensively in the Utah contingency. =P

We are the Mormons! *stabbed*

I think my issue with this problem stems from loving to read and yet hating the rules or attempting to keep them straight. Toss in years of customer service work where keeping records was done in a fragmented format to begin with...

It has in many ways become a habit that I'm struggling to break. I was accustomed to doing a lot of writing each and everyday where proper English was NOT a requirement.^^ I really want to fix that though.

@ShadowLight:

No need to apologise.

Which parts are confusing you, would you say? I can try to help explain things a little more for ya.

@Allamorph:

I also notice that this habit seems to happen extensively in the Utah contingency. =P

>_> Well why do you think I requested something about it? I can only assume it's on account of our poor education system here. That's a lame way of attempting to shift the blame from the fact that I hate grammar. T_T Seriously, every time I think I've got something down those exceptions throw me for a loop.

-Sabrina

Hmmm...I kinda get it and then I kinda don't, heh. Maybe I'm just silly I dunno. I'll try and read this later and see if I can completely understand all this ( portuguese grammar and now english, its confusing me right now heh). I'm sorry.

Thank you for the explaination on commasa. I'm glad that you went right down to basics with this. I definately needed to be reminded of what actually makes a sentence (that sounds slightly sad i think but it was true). Hopefully should I attempt fiction again I will be able to use these examples to get the commas in right places. Many thanks ^_^

Dranz

Hehehe, I had to read that Reboot example many times before I saw where you got them. Childhood stuff are a good thing to come by every now and then.

Comma splices... I think that is a common mistake of mine, as well. I think I need to work more on that one.

I second the vote on the fragment issue.

It's the whole thing where you start a sentence with a conjunction, and how that turns an otherwise correct full sentence into a fragment. It's kind of the same as when you start a sentence with "and".

Well, yeah, but the underlying reason for its occurrence, I feel, is what all the English teachers mean by "don't write like you're talking". (And on that note, I think the better phrasing should be "don't write as if you're talking", because I know many people who talk more clearly and more coherently than they write.)

Whenever I read a phrase beginning with "As...", I can't help but think that the person just thought of a support to add to their statement after they placed the period and are simply continuing on as if they were speaking, without realizing that the period completely ended that thought and their support should really come before it.

I also notice that this habit seems to happen extensively in the Utah contingency. =P

Wow... I can seriously say that I had to stop reading once I read the Reboot example. It took me utterly by surprise, but I love it all the same.

Ah, childhood. Good times.

@Allamorph:

Oh! Shoot, I meant to touch on that!

It's the whole thing where you start a sentence with a conjunction, and how that turns an otherwise correct full sentence into a fragment. It's kind of the same as when you start a sentence with "and".

Okay, future note: we must definitely do a full feature on sentence fragments.

Now I'm wondering if I have run on sentences as well.^^ Still it was a useful workshop to read so thank you. ^_^

-Sabrina

With this subject comes a slightly related one: "as".

I've seen many sentence fragments that begin with this word (used as a substitute for "since") or with the phrase "as well as...".

Examples of misuse would be:

• Although I don't really have a favorite season, my least favorite would be summer. As the heat makes it hard for me to breathe.
• I love cats, but we aren't allowed to have any in our house. As my mother is allergic.
• At the store we bought canned tomatoes for our spaghetti. As well as ice cream for desert.

I know how to see them, but I'm not so great at explaining that concept to other people. Perhaps you could shed some fresh light?