Helpful
Hints for Writing Final
36-38 The use of SO
One of the challenges facing developing
writers is avoiding run-on sentences. Because of this, your honorable
instructor has limited your use of the word so
when connecting clauses.
When so stands
alone and actually means and so, the
and and the comma should be included.
The sentence below illustrates the problem:
On Saturday evening we are giving a dinner
party, so
we hope that you attend.
To avoid running on, add and
On Saturday evening we are giving a dinner
party, and so
we hope that you attend.
Another revision choice is to eliminate
so and just use and:
On Saturday evening we are giving a dinner
party, and
we hope that you attend.
Let's look at another example:
The team is strong
this year, so we are almost sure to
win the city championship.
Again, because so
actually means and so, the and
must be included.
Three possible revisions:
The team is strong
this year, and
so we are almost sure to win the city championship.
The team is strong this year, and we
are almost sure to win the city championship.
The revision below would be better for
your writing, for and so establishes
a cause-and-effect relationship in
this sentence:
Because
the team is strong this year, we are almost sure to win the city
championship.
We are almost sure to win the city championship
because the team is so strong this
year.
When so means
so that, no
comma is required, and that may be dropped.
Here is an example of a sentence with so
that:
Jill climbed onto the top of the truck,
so that she could see over the crowd.
In this sentence, the comma needs to be
dropped, for, as we have experienced throughout the year, that
requires no comma. When the dependent clause follows the independent
clause in a complex sentence, expect no comma.
Jill climbed onto the top of the truck
so that she could see over the crowd.
Also, as we have experienced throughout
the year, that may be dropped as a connective,
leaving just so.
Jill climbed onto the top of the truck
so she could see over the crowd.
More examples
___________________________________________________________________
We stayed after school,
so that we could review our Dr. Grammar notes.
Problem - so that
is correct - no comma needed
Possible Revision - elimintate comma
We stayed after school so
that we could review our Dr. Grammar notes.
Possible Revision - eliminate comma
and that
We stayed after school so
we could review our Dr. Grammar notes.
___________________________________________________________________
The cafeteria no longer sold lunch tickets
so we started bringing our own lunch.
Problem - and means
and so - comma
needed
Possible Revision - add and
so and comma
The cafeteria no longer sold lunch tickets,
and so we started bringing our
lunch.
Possible Revision - replace and
so with cause-and-effect
Because the
cafeteria no longer sold lunch tickets,
we started bringing our lunch.
We started bringing our lunch
because the
cafeteria no longer sold lunch tickets.
___________________________________________________________________
Our team only made three free throws in yesterday's game,
so we shot extra free throws after practice today.
Problem - so means
and so - comma
needed
Possible Revision - add and
so and keep the comma
Our team only made three free throws in yesterday's game,
and so we shot extra free throws after practice today.
Possible Revision - replace and
so with cause-and-effect
Because our team only made three
free throws in yesterday's game, we
shot extra free throws after practice today.
We shot extra free throws after practice today because
our team only made three free throws in yesterday's game.
___________________________________________________________________
Remember to bring a good eraser,
so that you can easily make corrections.
Problem - so that
is correct - no comma needed
Possible Revision - elimintate comma
Remember to bring a good eraser
so that you can easily make corrections.
Possible Revision - eliminate comma
and that
Remember to bring a good eraser
so you can easily make corrections.
___________________________________________________________________
One last time - from a sentence combining
activity:
Fox wanted the cheese so
he approached the tree.
Problem - so means
and so - comma
needed
Possible revision - add and
so and add the comma.
Fox wanted the cheese,
and so he approached the tree.
He asked Crow to sing him just one
song so he could call her Queen of the
Birds.
There is no problem because so
means so that and is appropriately used.
Note no comma is needed.
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