The comma is a punctuation character that is placed on the baseline and looks similar to a single quotation mark.
2
votes
1answer
199 views
Parentheses vs. commas vs. hyphen or dash in a list of people
In a list of people published in a bulletin, which is correct?
We continue in prayer for: Amy B.(cancer), T. Jones(nephew of Tim), Lillie (on the death of her brother), Sally(Nursing Home),
...
2
votes
1answer
101 views
Correctly using a semicolon? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
How does one correctly use a semicolon?
I was wondering if the following was the correct usage of a semicolon or if a comma is more apt for this use.
Well, have we ...
2
votes
2answers
3k views
Can/should I put a comma before a phrase's time specifier?
For instance, consider the sentence, "I ate lunch today." Is it necessary or acceptable to put a comma before "today?"
Generally speaking, some of these time phrases look wrong to me when used with a ...
2
votes
1answer
171 views
Is “With [noun], [subject] [verb]” acceptable instead of “[subject] [verb] with [noun]”?
As an example, is "With grace, she danced." instead of "She danced with grace" proper? It seems to me that "with grace" is an adverb phrase, similar to "gracefully", so it should be able to be used in ...
2
votes
1answer
759 views
Syntax analysis of the sentence
I'm trying to analyse the following sentence.
To understand the importance of this event you should know all the facts.
It seems to me that this sentence is complex, and «To understand ...
2
votes
1answer
771 views
Comma before “including”?
Does this sentence require a comma before including?
He has written on a range of moral issues including poverty, globalization, and euthanasia.
2
votes
1answer
110 views
Punctuation after the interjection “by heaven” [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Exclamation marks in the middle of a sentence
How would you punctuate the following phrase with "by heaven"? It was used by a cricket commentator.
By heaven ...
2
votes
1answer
164 views
Should there be a comma in “The heading reads, 'a chart heading.'”?
I have a sentence along the lines of
The heading reads, "a chart heading."
The comma seems a bit awkward to me, but I cannot seem to find any explicit guidance in the Chicago Manual of Style on ...
2
votes
2answers
140 views
Should I use commas or semi-colons in this multi-item list within a sentence?
In the following sentence, I am listing multiple areas of study. Should they be separated by commas or semi-colons?
"In my exposure to this field so far, I have come to appreciate just how ...
2
votes
3answers
957 views
Comma in “Don't you wish your girlfriend was grammatically correct like me?”
I saw this:
"Don't you wish your girlfriend was grammatically correct like me?"
I'm wondering should it be:
"Don't you wish your girlfriend was grammatically correct, like me?"
2
votes
2answers
148 views
Does the comma here draw special attention to an additional fact?
In the latest issue of The Economist there is the following sentence:-
"And in China, unlike India, you can shop at Walmart, most of the time."
Firstly, shouldn't it be "...unlike in India? Else it ...
2
votes
0answers
30 views
“Please” and comma [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
In what cases should I use a comma after “please”?
Do I have to use comma after "please" in the beginning of the sentence?
E.g.
"Please, specify the ...
2
votes
0answers
112 views
Enumerations and conjunctions “and” and “or” [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Should I put a comma before the last item in a list?
How do I know if I need to add a comma or not before a conjunction preceding the last item in an enumeration?
For ...
2
votes
3answers
1k views
Verbs in a list separated by commas
I'm not talking about the basic items in a list (e.g. X, Y and Z), but a list of clauses (I think).
Example:
I am interested in things like going to this place, going to that place, eating food, and ...
1
vote
3answers
572 views
Use of comma after “and” in “obsolete and, frankly pathetic”
Is the comma after the word and in this sentence correct?
Social networks made having friends obsolete and, frankly pathetic.
1
vote
4answers
879 views
How do I deal with quotation marks, parenthesis and period all at the end of a sentence? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Where does the period go when using parentheses?
I have never seen this particular issue addressed; I looked around and couldn't see anything that specifically addresses ...
1
vote
1answer
169 views
Do I need a comma after “when in (%time)”?
The company had just started to make money when in 1914 the World War put an end to its aspirations.
OR:
The company had just started to make money when in 1914, the World War put an end to ...
1
vote
3answers
79 views
How does the comma change the meaning in these statements?
How does the comma change the meaning in these statements?
a) Ms. Harris was not defeated, because she changed her position.
b) Ms. Harris was not defeated because she changed her position.
...
1
vote
2answers
134 views
I am confused about the meaning of this sentence with the placement of the commas [closed]
All teachers under age sixty-five, and those over age sixty-five who are not eligible for Medicare, shall be allowed to purchase medical coverage.
Does this mean:
All teachers under age ...
1
vote
3answers
135 views
Comma after a long introductory phrase
Please help me with commas in the following sentence:
As an example of the successful use of such a model [,] one can mention SymPy computer algebra system [,] which uses Python as a main user ...
1
vote
2answers
201 views
How do I punctuate the phrase “final final exam”?
What is the correct punctuation for a final "final exam" that has been taken?
Should the sentence read:
'That my was my final, final exam!'
or
'That was my final final exam!'
1
vote
1answer
259 views
Should a comma be here or not?
In that eternal moment it sounded like thunder, reminding him that today time isn't on his side.
versus
In that eternal moment it sounded like thunder, reminding him that today, time isn't on ...
1
vote
1answer
320 views
Are these sentences both grammatically correct?
I can no longer remember her face, too
much time has passed.
I can no longer remember her face; too
much time has passed.
1
vote
3answers
2k views
Either and vs. Either or
(1) In this question on math.SE a question about the meaning of 'either' before a list which ends with 'and'. The meaning of
either a, b, c, or d
is from this answer sort of clear in that it means ...
1
vote
1answer
2k views
Where should I put the commas in a sentence containing “as well as”?
What is the proper way to punctuate a sentence containing "as well as"?
For example, in the sentence:
I hope to provide students with a solid foundation in the field as well as challenge them ...
1
vote
2answers
356 views
In a conditional sentence where the condition contains a list, which serial punctuation mark is used in the list?
For example,
If Bobby buys a pencil, an eraser, and a pad of paper, then he can write his essay.
To remove the ambiguity in the final comma, my instinct is to write:
If Bobby buys a pencil, ...
1
vote
2answers
198 views
Comma in “more than $6 billion to settle a long-running lawsuit, in a pact that also permits”
Visa Inc., MasterCard Inc. and some large banks agreed to pay scores of retailers—from giant Publix Supermarkets Inc. to an interior-design store in Minnesota—more than $6 billion to settle a ...
1
vote
1answer
134 views
Adjective clause with 'so'
I can't find any grammar reference to the correct usage of a specifying adjective clause. Consider an example:
The physical activity, so vital for the developing body, is often overlooked by the ...
1
vote
2answers
201 views
What is the proper way to punctuate “but no”?
I'm trying to figure out the proper usage and punctuation of "but no". I think it's one of the following:
You figure I would have made at least one post about Arthur C. Clarke’s “2010” during ...
1
vote
4answers
8k views
Using a comma before “rather than”
I find that it is very common for some people (typically English teachers, in my experience) to use a comma before a phrase beginning with "rather than" when it falls at the end of a sentence. For ...
1
vote
1answer
67 views
Punctuation within a question [closed]
How do you punctuate "Are you Mr. Jones?" Is that correct or should it be "Are you, Mr. Jones?"
1
vote
2answers
349 views
Comma placement in “developing cutting edge websites and previously video games”
This is the opening line of my CV so I would like it to be correct. Would this be the correct place to put the comma? I've always been taught not to put a comma before and.
I’m a talented and ...
1
vote
3answers
166 views
Do these adjectives refer to ice?
In this sentence from Wuthering Heights
I declined joining their breakfast, and, at the first gleam of dawn,
took an opportunity of escaping into the free air, now clear, and
still, and cold ...
1
vote
2answers
56 views
'and to' quagmire
Consider:
Her goal is to pioneer the idea of gardening in small or urban environments, and to inspire and educate people everywhere to grow their own organic food and live sustainably.
The comma ...
1
vote
2answers
689 views
Is that an adverbial participle? Should there be a comma?
I found the following sentence:
In part of my spare time, I work on fun projects.
I am not sure as to whether there should be a comma. If it is there, then this obeys some rules, for example on ...
1
vote
1answer
133 views
When to use commas (if at all) with subordinate clauses? [closed]
I'm finding conflicting guidelines about the use of commas with subordinate clauses. What are the rules?
Also, which of the following is correct, and why?
Some of what Mike did needs to be ...
1
vote
1answer
274 views
Comma placement in “I, too”
Which of the following is correct?
I, too, have seen that movie.
or:
I too, have seen that movie.
The former seems correct to me from examining the inflection with which I would say it, ...
1
vote
1answer
1k views
Is “not only… but as well…” grammatical?
I was given a text to read by my teacher which contains the following sentence:
Speaking a foreign language one can not only read the papers, magazines and original books by outstanding writers, ...
1
vote
2answers
2k views
Starting a sentence with 'About your question, …'
I have noticed myself often starting a sentence like this:
About your drawing question, I don't think there is an easy way to draw these shapes.
Is it formal to start a sentence that way (formal ...
1
vote
3answers
146 views
Which one is the correct phrase, and why?
I am confused about the following two phrases:
Generalising them is very easy. If you talk to some of them chosen at random, other largely share their views.
Generalising them is very easy. If you ...
1
vote
1answer
234 views
Comma after “intuitively” at the beginning of a sentence?
In the following sentence, do I have to put a comma after "intuitively?":
Intuitively, it represents the concept of something.
1
vote
2answers
435 views
“A, B, C, or etc.” vs. “A, B, or C, etc.” vs. “A, B, C, etc.”
I think correct usages of "and" and "etc." are:
A, B, C, and etc.
A, B, and etc.
But the example usage of "or" and "etc." I found in my dictionary is:
A or B, etc.
Why it is not:
A, ...
1
vote
1answer
105 views
Use of commas in a subordinate clause
I was about to correct a line like "Townville located in east Blaze County has grown rapidly since 2000 and continues to do so." to "Townville, located in east Blaze County, has grown rapidly since ...
1
vote
4answers
595 views
Comma in a sentence just before the start of a list
If I am asking a complex question, I would write it like this:
Do you have, by chance, three
pennies on you?
Should I write a complex question that turns into a list without the comma?
Do ...
1
vote
1answer
99 views
Larry and the fanboys
In the Penguin guide to punctuation Larry Trasks claims that a joining comma must be followed by and, or, but, yet or while.
However, I was under the impression that a joining comma should be ...
1
vote
2answers
351 views
Use of a semicolon before and comma after “however”
Several years ago, a previous boss told me to use a semicolon and comma with the word "however". I've always questioned this and would like to know if the following random sentences are using the ...
1
vote
1answer
239 views
Using a comma in a sentence with multiple “and”s
The sentence I'm having trouble with is:
Track monetary and material donations and compose gift acknowledgement letters.
I am trying to express that I keep track of both monetary and material ...
1
vote
1answer
962 views
Use of a comma after “during” at the beginning of a sentence [closed]
What is the rule regarding the use of a comma when the word "during" appears at the beginning of a sentence?
During church the child whimpered incessantly.
During church, the child ...
1
vote
1answer
95 views
“What happens to the comma after an inquiring/exclaiming quotation?”, he wondered, as he posted to StackExchange [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
How should I punctuate around quotes?
Forgive me for the creative title, because I'm not sure how else to ask this.
If you have a sentence like this...
"What's ...
1
vote
2answers
447 views
Usage of comma before quotes [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Does a comma have to be used before a quotation?
Please let me know which of the two examples below are correct:
Example a: And he said "where are my chips?"
Example ...
