I'm sure there are legitimate exceptions to this, but I suggest combining only two independent clauses at a time. Combining three or more independent clauses usually results in a cumbersome "run-on sentence."

I further suggest that you combine independent clauses only when they are related in some way. Two examples:

Here is an example of three independent clauses combined into a single compound sentence:

This is gramatically correct, but I would break it into two sentences:

See http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/561/02/ for more information on run-on sentences and related issues.--Aaron Minnick, Columbus, OH

Technically, "these ones" is redundant because "these" implies a number of individual items or objects. However, use of "these ones" often suggests a structural problem in the sentence. People often use "ones" when it is unclear exactly what "these" refers to.

"These" can be correctly used either as a pronoun (third-person) or an adjective:

--Aaron Minnick, Columbus, OH

"These ones" is redundant. One need only say "I want these," to get the point across.--Elise Hickman, Elkmont High School

"Me" is an objective case pronoun and can never be used as the subject of a sentence. I hear educated people (my own lawyer daughters) use it all the time. To know which case of a pronoun to use as the subject of a sentence, break it up thus: "Me swam" and "my brother swam" and you will immediately know that the first is incorrect. If you don't want to begin the pair with "I," phrase the sentence as "My brother and I swam."--Ruth Ross, Chatham High School, Chatham, NJ

http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/grammar/g_proncase.html covers this in detail. It is NEVER appropriate to say "Me and my brother swam" because "me" is in objective case and shoule be used ONLY as an object--of a verb, a verbal, or a preposition.

In your sentence, you should say "My brother and I swam." "I" is the subjective form and should be used in the subject of a sentence. I swapped the order of "my brother" and "I" because that is the most common usage in standard written English.--Aaron Minnick, Columbus, OH

Although the use of "addresses" sounds "technically" correct, the use of "speaks to..." is also correct. When "speaks to" is used in the case of an appeal, or in relation to something, it is perfectly acceptable. As in, "The Church will speak to the real issue of..." or "The story spoke to him directly." Both are inanimate objects, however, they both relate and appeal to a specific topic/issue. So, in this case, since the Bill is an appeal for the rectification of a specific issue, then it is used correctly.--Suzanne Miskel

I would argue for "address" on the grounds of clarity. But here's an interesting experiment. Doing a Google search for the phrase "address the issue" (be sure to include the quotes) yields 7,500,000 page results; the phrase "speak to the issue" yields a mere 122,000 results. A similar disparity shows up with "addresses" and "speaks." So that's one indicator that "address" could very well be the preferred construction. A Google search should by no means have the final say in matters of usage, but its results can be interesting, particularly in this case.--Karl, OWL Webmaster