Time to accept the comma splice?

It's one of those things that drive some people mad in a 'Why can't people write in proper sentences?' sort of way.

I have to admit that seeing two sentences lazily strung together with nothing more than a comma has a similar effect on me.

Never heard of the comma splice?

Here's an example:

'We will endeavour to ship your order within three days, however it may take longer.'

There are actually two sentences here. One is:

'We will endeavour to ship your order within three days.'

The other is:

'However, it may take longer.'

English has a number of ways to join two sentences together. The trouble is that sticking a comma between them isn't one of them.

What you can do is use a conjunction, such as 'and' or 'but' (often preceded by a comma):

'We will endeavour to ship your order within three days, but it may take longer.'

Alternatively, why not just use a full stop?

'We will endeavour to ship your order within three days. However, it may take longer.'

... or a semi-colon?

'We will endeavour to ship your order within three days; however, it may take longer.'

However, could it be time to ditch the rule?

Sometimes, very well-written literature is littered with comma splices. It can have a real affect on the pace of the text.

For example, 'Say what you want, I don't care' suggests hurried speech, with little or no pause between 'want' and 'I'. 'Say what you want; I don't care' just doesn't have the same effect.

And if the usage has become so widespread, how do we distinguish between a 'good' comma splice and a 'bad' one?

If the rule has become that the comma splice is wrong unless it looks OK or it's a good piece of writing, then that's no rule at all.

And perhaps it would spare editors and proofreaders much agonising if we just did away with it!