Reading with an eye for special effects

Roger Angell is known as a careful and correct stylist, yet he often deviates from the “correct” to create special effects, as in this passage about pitcher David Cone:

And then he won. Next time out, on August 10th, handed a seven-run lead against the A’s, he gave up two runs over six innings, with eight strike-outs. He had tempo, he had poise.

—ROGER ANGELL, “Before the Fall”

Angell uses a comma splice in the last sentence to emphasize parallel ideas; any conjunction, even and, would change the causal relationship he wishes to show. Because the splice is unexpected, it attracts just the attention that Angell wants for his statement.

Look through some stories or essays to find comma splices and fused sentences. Copy down one or two and enough of the surrounding text to show context, and comment in writing on the effects they create.

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Thinking about any comma splices and fused sentences in your own writing

Go through some essays you have written, checking for comma splices and fused sentences. Revise any you find, using one of the methods in this chapter. Comment on your chosen methods.

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