The comma is a punctuation character that is placed on the baseline and looks similar to a single quotation mark.
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Should the beginner's program read "Hello, World? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Where should the comma be placed in the salutation of a letter?
I was thinking today about comma usage and the typical first output for a beginning programmer. In the ...
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3answers
15k views
Do you need a comma before a subordinating conjunction (like if)?
Are both of the following sentences correct?
a: You can call me, if you need me. OR
b: You can call if you need me.
Note that in a:, the comma is placed before the "if" and is not present in case ...
4
votes
2answers
145 views
Including a comma to exclude all other people
I am Investigator Ace Sleuth, from the Fuji Apple Sheriff's Department.
I am Investigator Ace Sleuth from the Fuji Apple Sheriff's Department.
The comma in the first sentence implies that ...
3
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8answers
384 views
Commas around “and”
I'm at a loss as to how I should title this. I have this sentence:
We have the option to provide notifications via
telephone, and, possibly, email.
I am trying to express several things:
...
12
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3answers
2k views
Parentheses vs. double commas vs. dashes to provide additional detail
When do you use commas and when do you use parentheses to provide more detail about something?
For example:
The suspect, Tom Wilson, is now being charged with murder.
The suspect (Tom Wilson) is ...
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3answers
2k views
'Plus, …' or 'Plus …'
I've a sentence structured as below for a leaflet:
Fill in the survey and you can win x!
Plus, a chance to be entered into a draw to win y!
I typed this sentence and I just naturally added a ...
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2answers
123 views
Can I omit a colon and use a comma instead in this sentence to dramatize?
original sentence -> The purpose is to disclose some information
new sentence -> the purpose: to disclose some information
last version(I'm asking about) -> The purpose, to disclose information
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3answers
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Placing a comma after a conditional statement
I've always had difficulties in figuring out where commas should be placed. For example, in a phrase containing a conditional statement, how should I write...
If they don't arrive by noon, she'll ...
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1answer
152 views
Parenthetical commas and foreign English
I advise a friend on her writing, despite not quite knowing an adverb from a proverb (kidding (kinda)).
Invariably, parenthetical commas such as the following:
Jane, my assistant, opened the ...
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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 ...
3
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1answer
93 views
When writing user stories, should there be a comma after “As a User”, and before “I want”? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Comma after introductory phrases
Agile software development often encourages people to write up user stories using a given formula. The formula is: "As a User I want to ...
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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 ...
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2answers
202 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!'
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vote
1answer
107 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 ...
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votes
1answer
225 views
Commas and “but”
I was always taught that one of the primary uses of a comma is for when you're divvying up unnecessary parts of sentences (I'll just go ahead and assume that was right). So, when I'm constructing ...
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1answer
261 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 ...
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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, ...
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5answers
228 views
Should there be a comma or a colon here?
His latest album is Foo featuring his band, Bar.
His latest album is Foo featuring his band: Bar.
Which is the more appropriate way to punctuate the sentence?
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5answers
240 views
Meaning of “more original computer science”
If I write
Knuth has written more original computer science than anybody else
does it mean computer science that is more original or more computer science that is original? It seems like it ...
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2answers
832 views
Comma placement when using quotes that end with a question mark [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
How should I punctuate around quotes?
I've been writing a letter to an editor, and one line of my response reads:
In your article "What Makes Free Will Free?" you ...
5
votes
3answers
287 views
Why are commas needed in the following sentences?
I have difficulty understanding comma usages in the following sentences:
Mr Hirai had already announced that Sony's TV production goal would be halved, from 40m units to 20m. (The Economist)
...
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vote
0answers
609 views
Do I need to place a comma before an address? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Where should the comma be placed in the salutation of a letter?
I am not sure if the way I have formulated the title of my question is correct, so if you know better, ...
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3answers
280 views
What punctuation to use for “X or equivalently Y” and where does it go?
Suppose I have a phrase that expresses two statements as being equivalent. The details aren't important (they happen to be mathematical statements, and for the purpose of illustration, let's use "A is ...
2
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3answers
963 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
1answer
400 views
Punctuation after valediction [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Should you use a comma/period after “Thanks”/“Regards” in email signatures?
When writing a letter, do we put a comma or a period after the ...
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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 ...
2
votes
2answers
205 views
checking parts of speech pattern of this sentence
I wonder if the following sentence is grammatically correct.
Foobar is a novel, set in a scenic landscape of farmland and ancient woodland on the banks of the River Foo.
I suppose the word "set" ...
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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?"
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2answers
174 views
Usage of a comma for emphasis
It is grammatically acceptable to say the following?
Don't forget, they could be tricking us.
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2answers
304 views
Comma confusion [closed]
I'm pretty sure this is a duplicate, but it's a generic case and searching brings up thousands of examples, so I'm forced to post.
The question is, which of the sentences below is punctuated ...
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votes
1answer
2k views
Sentence with multiple 'and's: should I use an Oxford comma, and if so, where? [closed]
I have the following sentence:
I am a self-starter possessing excellent problem solving ability and outstanding coordination and communication skills.
Using the Oxford comma, what is the correct ...
0
votes
2answers
297 views
Where should I put the comma in this sentence? [closed]
The three main factors of bullying among teenagers are problematic family background, strong desire of power and popularity and influence from mass media.
The number of ands in this sentence ...
3
votes
2answers
209 views
Larry Trask seems to be violating rules about commas as mentioned in his own guide
I was reading Larry Trask's guide on how to use the comma. His node11.html mentions that we should not use a joining comma before any word other than and, or, but, while and yet.
But in node13.html, ...
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4answers
923 views
Probably excessive commas - a part of sentence looks like a list of items
Sometimes, when I am trying to put into a sentence all the commas that should be there, according to the rules, it begins to look like a list of items - a comma after every word. (Edit: and as David ...
3
votes
4answers
233 views
Comma use: “from the ground up” or “from the ground, up”?
Is it appropriate to use a comma in the expression: ..."from the ground, up" or should there be no comma?
Without a comma, the expression seems strange to me. I've been criticized by a non-native ...
3
votes
3answers
159 views
Using an unrelated “too” before an infinitive
I came across the following in a children's textbook about Japanese:
[Ninja] did not have magic powers but they did have [discipline, determination and daring] ... These attributes will help you ...
3
votes
2answers
120 views
What is the preferred way to write this type of sentence?
Sally (the mayors daughter) donated to the Salvation Army yesterday.
or
Sally, the mayors daughter, donated to the Salvation Army yesterday.
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4answers
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Is it appropriate to put a comma before “which”?
On Server Fault, we were discussing this question in chat. There are non-native speakers in the chat and somehow we got on the topic of grammar and proper use of commas.
The sentence of interest:
...
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2answers
173 views
Is this a correct use for semicolons?
Is this sentence punctuated correctly?
Not only am I a wife, but a mother; not only a daughter, but a sister; not only a coworker, but a friend.
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4answers
367 views
Are commas properly used in “He who can, does. He who cannot, teaches.”?
George Bernard Shaw said, "He who can, does. He who cannot, teaches." Are commas properly used in these sentences? In my mind, the comma in each sentence improperly separates the noun ("he") from the ...
3
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3answers
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Is a comma needed before or after “which” and “such as”?
Is a comma needed before the word "which" and "such as" in the following examples?
Ethical clearance was essential which was obtained very early in the research process.
There are several ...
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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 ...
2
votes
2answers
149 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 ...
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vote
0answers
161 views
Should I use the so-called Oxford comma, or not? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Should I put a comma before the last item in a list?
Until relatively recent times, I always concluded a series in this manner, eg.: "while walking through the park ...
4
votes
3answers
371 views
Whether an omitted “that” should be replaced with a comma in certain situations
Consider a sentence like this:
"I'm just letting you know that the meeting is at 6 tonight."
It would be pretty common to omit "that" in this sentence:
"I'm just letting you know the meeting is at ...
3
votes
3answers
199 views
Is “ .. the war on drugs has not, and cannot, be won.” correctly punctuated?
The quote in the title of this post is an extract from the official report by the Global Commission on Drug Policy, authored among others by Kofi Annan. To me the comma is clearly misplaced. But is ...
5
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3answers
264 views
Using the comma as a list of things vs two related thoughts
Recently I sent a mail wishing a friend well. I ended it with the following sentence.
Please take care, and call me if you need anything.
The comma was included because the two were separate ...
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vote
2answers
452 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 ...
2
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1answer
165 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 ...
3
votes
1answer
374 views
Use of a comma within a descriptive phrase
In the sentence "Their work involves commercial solar heating systems," should there be a comma after the word "commercial"? These are solar heating systems for commercial use as opposed to private ...
