Not sure if it's grammatically correct or whatever, but i'd personally put:

"Joe stumbled over a rock, falling to the ground."

Although to choose from the three options, it'd be, "Then: Joe stumbled over a rock, then fell to the ground." It sounds speedier that way, more like an action shot, to me at least.

Well, I was simply trying to give an example. My main question is, in sequences of events, do you use 'and', 'then', or 'and then'? -----------------------------
-Chro
Author of Blades of the Fallen and The Spirit Shifter
And blogger of Journey of the Scribe

I would prefer 'Joe stumbled over a rock and fell to the ground', without a comma after rock. I see no need to use 'then' because it is obvious that he wouldn't have fallen to the ground before he stumbled over the rock.

Hi,

If you wanted to combine the clauses using 'and' then there is no comma. Because the two verb phrases are part of the same unit - what's called a compound predicate.

So you would have:

Joe stumbled over a rock and fell to the ground.

Which is by far the simplest construction. 'Then' has a kind of separating effect. This happened 'and then' this happened. And I don't think that's appropriate here. The events are too closely linked.

Of course the context is also important. And as long as there is no risk of confusion, then it is a matter of style.

Imagine this:

She punched him and kicked him and tortured him. And then she killed him.

You could also write it as a list:

She punched him, kicked him, tortured him, and killed him.

(with or without the final comma)

(Or, for a more pacey read, without the 'him's:
She punched, kicked, tortured and killed him.)

In the list form, it seems the killing occurred more immediately on the heels of the torture. Whereas the first version ('and then'), IMO, sounds like he was made to suffer just that little bit longer.

Both are right, but I prefer the first. It adds weight to the kill. But it depends what effect you are going for.

Also.

Compare the first version first version:

She punched him and kicked him and tortured him. And then she killed him.

to a variation without 'then':

She punched him and kicked him and tortured him. And she killed him.

Here, the 'then' has a nice rhythmic quality. It just sounds, to my ear, more pleasing.

I struggle with grammar, but I'm constantly googling and reading up on it. And I'm getting the hang gradually. You need to do this so you can explore all the options without worrying about making an elementary cock up that might put off an agent.

Hope this helps
Fisher