Which sentence is correct: "He stared, smiling at me" or "He stared, smiled at me"?

Question

My beta reader says the second one is correct, but to me, it sounds weird. What do you think?

Answer 1

You need to think about the context of the sentence and what you are trying to say.

If your sentence takes place in the present tense, then you want to stick with the sentence, "He stared, smiling at me."

If the sentence took place in the past tense form, then the correct version of the sentence might sound something like, "He stared and smiled at me." In this sentence, I see no need for a comma splice.

Answer 2

I agree with Mark M.'s answer, but the first sentence *does* need a comma. The way it is written is correct.

 

I agree about the second sentence; it sounds weird. There are several ways to rewrite it that sound better: "He stared and smiled at me" or "He stared, then he smiled at me." Notice the first way doesn't require a comma because you are linking an independent clause and a dependent clause. The second way *does* require a comma because you are linking 2 independent clauses.

 

Here is more information on how to use commas: https://www.businessinsider.com/a-guide-to-proper-comma-use-2013-9

 

Hopefully that helps. :)

Answer 3

The "correctness" is in the meaning.

Do you want to say that he was smiling while he stared?

Or do you want to say that he stared, and them smiled?

If it is the first, the common is not needed.

If it is the second an "and" or "then" should be added.