I have a friend who's been with his girlfriend for 2 years.  They
moved in together after the first year of going out so they've been
living together for a little over a year now.  Things are getting
strange since he isn't ready to get married but she is.  She
thinks that he's "stringing her along". He just thinks that they are
enjoying a relationship in which they simply live together.

Is the solution for them to move out and get separate apartments, in
effect giving the relationship a breather?  They have discussed this
option but she sees this as a big step back in the relationship and he
just sees it as a smaller step back.  They are worried that if they move out,
they will end up breaking up rather than eventually getting married.

They are both asking my advice since I'm a good friend to both of
them.  Should I convince them to move out or keep their shared
apartment?  I want to tell them to move out, but I'm worried about
being the *cause* of a breakup.  Does anyone have any advice?

Hi Jacques!

Are you starting to feel as if you're between the proverbial rock and
hard place?

The key word here is "commitment". Considering that the divorce rate
is over 50%, if both parties aren't committed to marriage and to
making that marriage work, it is almost a given that it will add to
those statistics within the first three years.

Search term: divorce statistics in the US.
Source: Divorce Magazine ...
http://www.divorcemag.com/statistics/statsUS.shtml

Neither of your friends should the need to compromise their values,
but the time has probably come to determine how committed each is to
the relationship - let alone marriage. The fact that they're asking
you for advice isn't fair to you, and it is asking you to validate
their positions.

The best advice [there's that word again :)] you can give them,
especially if you want to remain friends with them both - would be for
them to take a real look at the pros and cons of their situation now,
and whether it is worth compromising any personal feelings and dreams
to maintain the relationship.

Point out the obvious - reassure them you will respect any decision
they make and still be their friend. And wish them both the best.
You're right, anything else, and they may try to blame you.

This isn't very scientific - but it's not rocket science, either. It
doesn't take a lot of research to realize the obvious. To beat the
statistics both your friends have to be in agreement and totally
committed - and hanging on for any reason other than commitment is no
way to live one's life.

Hope this helps,
Serenata

Thanks very much for the great advice, you've cleared things up for
me. Sometimes it takes a 3rd party on the outside to see above the
fog.

I would just add that, statistically, couples who live together before
marriage have a *much* higher divorce rate.

I would suggest that they should move out and live for few days
without contact.
This will help both of them to understand the importance of other
persion in their lifes.
"If you love some one
Let it free,
If it come back to you it is yours 
else it was never yours."
I stongly belive in this.
If they are united again, the bond will be  very strong and
everlasting.
Its my openion, ignore it if you dont like.