Conjunction Reduction British English vs American English?

Question

I am finding there is a difference in what is acceptable between American and British English. I posted this question on Facebook:"Grammar friends, I need your help! Is omitting the pronoun the second time it appears in a sentence acceptable? (I learned American English, not British English, and that is possibly where this debate is stemming from.)Example One: "I am your friend and am seeking your help."Versus "I am your friend and I am seeking your help." Example Two: "I need your help so am asking for your assistance."Versus: "I need your help so I am asking for your assistance.""Can anyone provide clarity to this? My American friends say both are acceptable and my British friends say the second option in both examples is the only acceptable answer.Thank you in advance for any help.

Answer 1

As far as I know, they are both correct.

"I am your friend and am seeking your help" shows that your thought continues just as you would use and to connect other words. In this case, the first pronoun represents the missing pronoun, so you cannot precede and with a comma.

"I am your friend[,] and I am seeking your help" needs the comma because they are separate sentences.

I have read where educators or grammarians state that if the succeeding sentence is short, a comma is unnecessary. For consistency and to avoid confusing my students, I prefer to use the comma before any coordinating conjunction.

Therefore, the same thoughts apply to your remaining sentences.

Answer 2

Grammatically speaking, keeping the pronoun in both conjunctive phrases is the correct way to write them. However, acceptance of omissions is more of a regional trait. The example given in this question, plus the habit of omitting articles (a, the, etc.) by many European, Canadian, and American speakers and writers, are perhaps acceptable for a particular area, but isn't proper grammar for a term paper or professional document.