Articles

Why comma splices aren’t so nice

I know what it’s like. You’re full of ideas that you’re eager to share. You want to say everything all at once, give your reader every detail, say all of the things, all in one go, immediately and now, because it’s really important and you just have to get it out there, all of it, this instant!

But sometimes you need to stop.

Or rather, you need a full stop.

Let me introduce you to one of those pesky grammatical gremlins: the run-on sentence. Also known as a comma splice, this particular glitch occurs when two complete sentences get squished together with nothing but a comma between them.

Here’s an example.

Good writing is a genuine pleasure, it can open up entirely new worlds in your mind.

The problem is that the phrases on either side of the comma are complete sentences in their own right. That means they deserve to begin with their very own capital letter and end with their own full stop.

Just as a reminder, a sentence is complete and correct when it contains an independent clause. This is a clause that has both a subject, which is the thing or person doing something, and a verb, which is the action being done by the thing or person. (It’s even better when the subject and verb agree with each other, but that’s a topic for another article.)

The subject and the verb may be joined by other grammatical elements, like objects or complements, but the whole point of a sentence is to communicate a coherent idea. It’s what they are designed to do.

Sentences are happiest when they express one clear, complete thought.

This is why comma splices aren’t so nice. They comprise two (or possibly more) complete thoughts that ought to reside in separate sentences. When this doesn’t happen and a sentence runs on, there can be a feeling of breathlessness in the writing. It is as if everything becomes rushed. Individual ideas pile up on one another and the discrete expression of each gets blurred.

Fortunately, it is easy to mend a comma splice. The simplest way is to insert a full stop and capital letter.

Good writing is a genuine pleasure. It can open up entirely new worlds in your mind.

Other appropriate punctuation, such as a semicolon or dash, can likewise replace the comma, or you could add the word “and” or another appropriate conjunction after the comma to create a compound sentence.

Good writing is a genuine pleasure, as it can open up entirely new worlds in your mind.

See how easy it is?

Learning to detect and correct comma splices in your own writing is a skill that is worthwhile nurturing. One approach for this is to check each comma in turn and assess whether it should be a full stop instead. This involves having some understanding of clauses and sentences, which is in itself is a good idea if you want to improve your writing.

You might also try that magical trick of reading your writing aloud. It may not always help you detect a run-on sentence, but it can be a useful practice anyway.

Ideas, like people, need space to breathe. By making sure you have a single idea in a single sentence, you will avoid comma splices and keep your writing nice.

Now it’s your turn…

Do you have a tendency towards run-on sentences? What will you do differently now you understand more about them?

Why I need to see your work
(and why it’s ok to show me)

Detail of a girl's eyes from a vintage photograph This is how it goes.

You write your document. You work away at it until you happily hit that final full stop. You take a breath. You let it go. You’re ready for the next step.

You decide to get your work professionally edited. One way or another, you find me.

Maybe a friend mentions my name or you glean my details from a list of freelance editors. You might click through various, curious links until you arrive at this website and fill in my contact form, or perhaps I slip you a business card when we meet at an event somewhere.

However it happens, you find me and you send me a message. Chances are, it goes something like this… I’ve just finished writing my novel / PhD thesis / self-help book / website content / family history / entire life’s work. How much will it cost to edit?

This is the point at which I will ask you, very politely, to please send me a sample of your work.

Because without reading the actual words you want me to edit,
I have no way of knowing how much it will cost.

Your words are your own. They are unlike those that any other writer might compose. This means your manuscript is unique, and so the level of editing and time it requires cannot be determined by intuition or a formula. It can only be done by me giving it a decent read and due consideration.

Some editors do quote for jobs on a per word or per page basis, while others might cite an hourly rate. That’s fine, but it is not my preferred approach.

I am much happier knowing what your writing is like by having read it. Doing so allows me to get a better understanding of how I can help you and how much is involved – in terms of cost, time, complexity and effort – in giving you that assistance.

Sometimes writers are reluctant to share their work, even when seeking a quote to have it edited. It is a delicate thing, I know, to send your words into the unknown hands of someone you’ve never met. Issues of trust and confidentiality can loom over such an exchange, not to mention that nagging question… What will she think of it?

Let me reassure you.

I read your work. I don’t judge it. And I keep all documents you send me safe and secure while they are in my care. I know how important they are.

You need to feel confident that you can send your work to me and I need to see it so I can ensure the quote I give you to work on it is fair to both of us.

The only way that can happen is if you let me read it first.

Now it’s your turn…

How do you feel about sharing your writing with other people? What prompts you to decide either to send it out into the world or not?

Developmental editing: What it is and why I love it

New leaves of a hakea tree shown against a clear blue sky If you have spent any time at all exploring this website (and I do invite you to do so), you will be among the clever few who already know there are different levels of editing. While I happily offer my services in structural or substantive editing as well as copyediting, I have a definite delight in doing developmental editing too.

This kind of editing happens at an earlier stage in the writing process. It occurs closer to the spark that ignites the original idea, which means the words I’m working with when I edit developmentally are often in a more raw or tender form.

Writers who approach me for assistance with developmental editing are excited by their projects and committed to their creation. Often, however, they have not yet found the precise shape or content for their concept. While they care deeply about their topic and the message they want to share, many find themselves getting tangled up in the complex possibilities of expression and composition.

This is where developmental editing can help.

As with other kinds of editing, the focus of this approach is on ensuring a writer’s voice and vision are made clear. Where developmental editing differs from structural editing or copyediting is that the editor is more intimately involved in the actual formation of the text.

This can include things like helping you clarify your main point or purpose and devising a structure for its elaboration. Developmental editors may also propose new directions for you explore, based on either an early version of your manuscript or discussions about your topic. We can assist you with expanding your vision too, but it is just as likely that we will advise you on areas to reduce or exclude.

Most importantly, a developmental editor will work with you to establish a plan for your writing and support you on your journey.

Undertaking an effective developmental edit can be a daunting venture for editor and writer alike, yet it is an exciting one too. It is not always an easy procedure, nor is it a speedy one, but it can be incredibly valuable.

The reasons why I enjoy developmental editing are many. There is the thrill of engaging with emerging ideas and the privilege of working so closely with writers. There’s the elation of sensing the rhythm that is hidden within the content, and the pleasure of guiding the writing into a cogent flow. Personally, I also relish the sincere satisfaction of turning a bundle of genuine but jumbled jottings into a comprehensible document with a compelling proposition.

Creative and intuitive, challenging and rewarding, developmental editing is the means by which an idea becomes a manuscript. It is the process that allows me to help writers like you shape your unruly ideas and language into lucid, expressive and poetic texts.

If you are curious about this kind of editing or want to discuss your project with me, please get in touch. It would be my pleasure to help you.

Now it’s your turn…

Have you had any experience with developmental editing? What was it like? How did it help you?

Exhausting or exhaustive?

Image of the word "exhaust" with alternate endings of "-ing" or "-ive" It is an easy mistake to make, especially when you’re tired. Nevertheless, there is a difference in meaning between the words “exhausting” and “exhaustive”, and astute writers know which one to choose.

The word “exhausting” may be used either as a verb (as in exhausting all possibilities) or as an adjective (an exhausting day). In either case, its meaning is to use or consume, to drain of strength or resources, or to draw out all that is essential or interesting. Often, it denotes tiredness or fatigue.

While it is true that the word “exhaustive” may also refer to the draining of strength, energy or resources, its more typical meaning is thorough, complete or comprehensive. An exhaustive examination of something, for instance, would be extensive and meticulous, leaving nothing out.

Thus, “exhausting” typically means tiring, while “exhaustive” usually means entire.

There are occasions when both words can be applicable. An exhausting search, for instance, may well be an exhaustive one. Likewise, an exhaustive line of questioning could also be exhausting – for interrogator and interrogated alike.

Clever writers might like to play around with these simultaneous meanings. For the sake of simplicity, however, I suggest that it is best to select the one word of these two that most accurately reflects your intended meaning. Is it more important, for instance, to imply a certain tiredness or to evoke a level of diligence?

As always, it is wise to keep your reader in mind. Rather than impressing your audience with your stylistic decision to use one of these words in place of the other, you could risk causing confusion. Worse still, you might end up looking like you don’t know the difference between them. If conveying both meanings matters to you, try finding a way to do it more precisely.

This brief explanation of these similar but distinct terms is itself not exhaustive. Yet hopefully it is not exhausting either. It is merely intended to assist you in choosing the best word for your purpose and to help you become a more artful writer.

Now it’s your turn…

Is the difference between “exhausting” and “exhaustive” clear to you? Which other words that seem or sound alike do you often get confused?

Finding the right editor for you

Sharpened pencils in a row - so many colours to choose from It has taken a bit of time and a lot of effort. You’ve poured your devotion, attention and even your heart into writing your book, your thesis, your website, your poetry. Now at last it is finished.

Almost.

After all that dedication and occasional frustration, you know how important it is that your message is clear. That’s why you understand the next step is to employ the expertise of an editor who will check, correct and improve your written expression.

But how do you find the right editor for you?

If you are reading these words, you have already discovered this website. (Hello, by the way, and welcome. I’m so glad you’re here.) Perhaps you were referred to me by a friend or you found my details on the Editors Victoria freelance register. These are both great ways to locate an editor.

Other options are to ask writers you know or admire for their recommendations or check the acknowledgements in books similar to the one you have written yourself. Authors often mention their editors here. You can also try using a search engine but your results might be a little mixed. Use detailed keywords and you may have better luck.

Of course, finding an editor’s website or contact details is one thing. Working out whether or not that person will best meet your editing needs is a different and more delicate process. It is also exceptionally important.

Any editor can improve your writing. But the right editor will make your experience enlightening, enjoyable and ultimately rewarding.

To help you choose the right editor for you, here are some questions you might ask.

Does the editor have experience with your particular type of document or publication?
Are any areas of special interest or skill noted?
What do other people say about their experience of working with the editor, either through recommendations or testimonials?
How promptly does the editor respond to your initial email or phone call?
What is the tone of the editor’s communication with you (for example, brisk, informative, reassuring, casual, professional)?
Has the editor shown you a sample of work? Are you happy with it?
Is the editor able to complete the work you need within your preferred timeframe?
Has the nature and process of the editing been explained to you?
What level/s of editing does the editor do (for example, copyediting, structural editing, developmental editing)?
Does the cost of the work reflect the value you will receive?
Will the editor offer flexibility in your payment arrangements if necessary?
What sense do you get of the editor from a website or social media presence?
What feeling do you get from your interactions with the editor, either in person or online?

This last question may seem somewhat vague but it is perhaps the most important of all, as each editor will have an approach that is both personal and particular. Where one may be firm and direct, another could be more intuitive and supportive. Neither is wrong, but nor would these different styles both be appropriate for the same writer or project.

In my own work, I focus on being friendly and professional. I like to be thorough, which means I may not be as quick to finish your job as another editor. I tend to teach too. (Can’t help it.) This means I will often explain the suggestions I make and offer you more information about any issues I see recurring in your writing. Another aspect of my work is providing you with options to choose from. My belief is that you are responsible for your words, which is why you must make your own decisions about what you will do with them.

This approach works for me but it may not suit you or the specific piece of writing for which you are seeking assistance. That’s fine. You can look for someone more aligned with your requirements using one of the methods mentioned above.

The crucial point is this: a good engagement between writer and editor requires trust and patience on both sides. It is a subtle and sensitive relationship, so it is important you are happy with your choice.

Finding the right editor may take you some time. But like your writing itself, it is worth the effort. In both cases, when it happens well, the outcome can be a truly beautiful thing.

Now it’s your turn…

What has been your experience of working with an editor? What do you look for in an editor? How do you discover and nourish those qualities?

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