comma splice or not: recommend this, but until it is installed, it's

T

tontiloki

New Member
Spanish (Andaluz)
Hi!
This is my first post. I normally use your forum to clear up any doubts on language because I think it is brilliant
I am a bit obsessed with teaching my students how to improve their writing avoiding comma splices or run-on sentences.
The thing is that they had to do an accommodation review as homework , and the textbook they are using have the following sentence:

"All in all, I would recommend this accommodation, but I would say that until the central heating is installed, it's best in summer."

Well, I just wondered if there is a comma splice here. I think there are too many commas, but I might be mistaken.
Thanks in advance
 
    • I'd write:
    "All in all I would recommend this accommodation but I would say that, until the central heating is installed, it's best in summer."
    Also an optional comma after "accommodation"; I think that after "all in all" a comma is possible but personally I find it excessive.
     
    Whether or not there are too many commas, there is not a "comma splice" here as the two independent clauses are joined with the conjunction "but". A comma splice is two independent clauses joined by only a comma.
     
    Thanks Myridon for that very clear explanation about what a comma splice is. In any case I am not still very sure about the use of so many commas in sentences which include 2 or more different ideas. They seem to me quite confusing, and I really prefer to rewrite them. Am I mistaken?
    What about the changes below?
    "All in all I would recommend this accommodation. Although I would say that, until the central heating is installed, it's best in summer."
    Thanks again
     
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