Re: "and then," or simply "then"?

["Tom Johnson" <tomjohnson1492 -at- gmail -dot- com>]

I accidentally replied only to the author rather than the list. I'm
forwarding the thread to the list.


> >       > [TJ] "Click Gimfratz, then click the display to add new
> >       > locations."  If the two independent clauses are short, you
> >       > can use a comma rather than a semicolon.
> >       > It's a gray area here.
> >       >
> >
> >
> >       [BG] Not for an editor, it isn't. Two independent clauses
> > need semicolons to
> >       separate them -- or a conjunction.
> >
> >
> > [TJ] I admit that using a comma between two short independent
> > clauses is an exception to the rule, but it is permissible
> > according to Strunk and White. See
> > http://www.bartleby.com/141/strunk.html. Scroll to the last
> > example for #5. "Man proposes, God disposes." Where do you
> > draw the line and require a semicolon rather than a comma?
> > That's the gray area.
> >
>
> [BG] Yes, your're right, but that's a more, shall we say, poetic usage that
> wouldn't be appropriate for business.
>
> > [TJ] Also note that two short independent clauses separated by a
> > coordinating conjunction don't always require a comma. For
> > example, "Timothy played the guitar and Betty sang." See The
> > Chicago Manual of Style, 15th edition, section 6.32.
> >
> >
> >
>
> [BG] Yes, this is OK too. : )
>
> >
> >
> >
> >       > [TJ] "Click Gimfratz, and then click the display to add new
> >       > locations." In this style, the comma after Gimfratz is
> >       > allowed because the two independent clauses are implied.
> >       > [You] click Gimfratz, and then [you] click the display to add
> >       > new locations.
> >       >
> >
> >
> >       [BG] It's not allowed -- it's required.
> >
> >
> > [TJ] Maybe a better example sentence would make the issue more
> > apparent -- "Click the Print button and select OK." The "you"
> > is implied, but couldn't it also pass as a compound
> > predicate? I could be saying "[You] click the Print button,
> > and [you] select OK." Or I could be listing two verbs,
> > similar to the sentence, "He clicked the Print button and
> > selected OK." I've seen both styles used in manuals. I've
> > love to see a reference cited on this one.
> >
> >
>
> [BG] All the examples above are correct. "Click the Print button and select
> OK"
> seems to me to be a compound predicate. If you repeat the subject, you do
> need that comma (normally, but not in the "and Betty sang" sentence. In
> that, either with or without is fine.
>
> [BG] This only went to me, so if you want to post it online, please feel
> free to
> do so.
>
> Sorry if I came down a bit hard on you, Tom. ; )
>
>
> Bonnie Granat
> http://www.GranatEdit.com
>
>
>


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