however (punctuation)

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Teo  #204213  Wed, 08 Mar 06 02:53 AM
#1 is not a run-on sentence, but a comma splice.
  
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Thank you very much for your reply.
Teo  #204245  Wed, 08 Mar 06 05:10 AM
What does the Devil's handiwork mean?
  
Clive  #204256  Wed, 08 Mar 06 05:56 AM

Hi,

What does the Devil's handiwork mean? Something cleverly and skillfully made by the Devil in order to torment people and lead them into sin.

I said this as a humorous way of saying I didn't like that sentence with the semi-colon. It was a feeble little joke.

Best wishes, Clive

  
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davkett  #204403  Wed, 08 Mar 06 07:28 PM
 Clive wrote:

 I tell my students that once per month is more than enough. Without this kind of advice, people will often write pages that are full of semi-colons, in almost every sentence.

I prefer no.2. 

(I actually don't see semi-colons very much.  Perhaps, Clive, you made a far-reaching impact.)

 

  
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MrPedantic  #204430  Wed, 08 Mar 06 10:55 PM
 Davkett wrote:

...I actually don't see semi-colons very much...

I'm afraid that future generations will read #2 as a sentence interrupted by a winking smiley.

  
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Rex  #204433  Wed, 08 Mar 06 11:03 PM
I would vote in favour of 2 and 3.
  
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Clive  #204436  Wed, 08 Mar 06 11:09 PM

Hi,

My sentences are often interrupted by winking smileys. It's because those are the kind of people I usually talk to.

Clive

  
Wwwdotcom  #204437  Wed, 08 Mar 06 11:12 PM
I prefer to use "however" to start a sentence, but I use "but" to join two short sentences which fit the appropriate need for "but".  However, 2 also looks acceptable, however, 1 looks and sounds strange.
  
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Teo  #206721  Thu, 16 Mar 06 12:26 PM

http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/runons.htm

Run-on sentences happen typically under the following circumstances*:

  1. When an independent clause gives an order or directive based on what was said in the prior independent clause:
    This next chapter has a lot of difficult information in it, you should start studying right away.
    (We could put a period where that comma is and start a new sentence. A semicolon might also work there.)
  2. When two independent clauses are connected by a transitional expression (conjunctive adverb) such as however, moreover, nevertheless.
    Mr. Nguyen has sent his four children to ivy-league colleges, however, he has sacrificed his health working day and night in that dusty bakery.
    (Again, where that first comma appears, we could have used either a period — and started a new sentence — or a semicolon.)
  3. When the second of two independent clauses contains a pronoun that connects it to the first independent clause.
    This computer doesn't make sense to me, it came without a manual.
    (Although these two clauses are quite brief, and the ideas are closely related, this is a run-on sentence. We need a period where that comma now stands.)
    Most of those computers in the Learning Assistance Center are broken already, this proves my point about American computer manufacturers.
    Again, two nicely related clauses, incorrectly connected — a run-on. Use a period to cure this sentence.
  
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