Former English teacher and veteran old-school copy editor here. Is this the sentence containing the offending splice?
"In some cases that might be a $2,500 fine, in other cases it might be a fine of $150,000."
Yes, the comma should have been a semicolon, strictly speaking. However, given that these are short independent clauses very similar in form and wording, less than a full stop may be permissible to create emphasis through an additive sequence, as a matter of style. If there were an issue of clarity, I would insist on the semicolon. Pronoun reference in the cited sentence also warrants a closer look, but again, clarity is not an issue as I read it.
The writers deserve a break in this case. They have a lot on their plate.
Andrew:
Former English teacher and veteran old-school copy editor here. Is this the sentence containing the offending splice?
"In some cases that might be a $2,500 fine, in other cases it might be a fine of $150,000."
Yes, the comma should have been a semicolon, strictly speaking. However, given that these are short independent clauses very similar in form and wording, less than a full stop may be permissible to create emphasis through an additive sequence, as a matter of style. If there were an issue of clarity, I would insist on the semicolon. Pronoun reference in the cited sentence also warrants a closer look, but again, clarity is not an issue as I read it.
The writers deserve a break in this case. They have a lot on their plate.