comma=because

[James Smith]

I read the second clause as an explanation of the
first, therefore I would use a colon.  I can see using
a semicolon if you read the statement as "We can
probably wait on the software for now, (but)I don't
think it will be a problem."

--- Lynne Murphy <lynnem at COGS.SUSX.AC.UK> wrote:
> I think a semicolon would be more appropriate.
>
> Lynne
>
> --On Wednesday, January 24, 2001 8:57 am -0800 James
> Smith
> <jsmithjamessmith at YAHOO.COM> wrote:
>
> > Maybe it's just not knowing how to use a colon.  I
> > think "..." or a dash would also work if the
> writing
> > is approximating speech.
> >
> >
> > --- Greg Pulliam <pulliam at IIT.EDU> wrote:
> >> Does it seem to anyone else that the type of
> "comma
> >> splice" exemplified in
> >>
> >> "We can probably wait on the software for now, I
> >> don't think it will
> >> be a problem."
> >>
> >> (where the comma takes the place of "because" or
> >> "since") is becoming
> >> more and more common in written correspondence?
> >> This is the third or
> >> fourth instance I've seen in less than a week,
> >> leading me to think
> >> that it may be moving toward respectability.
> >>
> >> --
> >> -
> >> Greg
> >>
> >> greg at pulliam.org
> >> http://www.pulliam.org
> >
> >
> > =====
> > James D. SMITH                 |If history teaches
> anything
> > SLC, UT                        |it is that we will
> be sued
> > jsmithjamessmith at yahoo.com     |whether we act
> quickly and decisively
> >                                |or slowly and
> cautiously.
> >
> > __________________________________________________
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>
>
> M Lynne Murphy
> Lecturer in Linguistics
> School of Cognitive and Computing Sciences
> University of Sussex
> Brighton BN1 9QH
> UK
>
> phone +44-(0)1273-678844
> fax   +44-(0)1273-671320


=====
James D. SMITH                 |If history teaches anything
SLC, UT                        |it is that we will be sued
jsmithjamessmith at yahoo.com     |whether we act quickly and decisively
                               |or slowly and cautiously.

__________________________________________________
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