The comma is a punctuation character that is placed on the baseline and looks similar to a single quotation mark.
3
votes
1answer
38 views
Punctuation for a Shakespeare quote
I am putting a quote on a plaque, but am uncertain how to punctuate it. Any help would be appreciated.
This above all: to thine own self be true
Do I put in a comma (which is in the original ...
2
votes
0answers
22 views
References to words in comma separated clause
Is this sentence grammatically correct?
It seems to me that, since many of the speakers are in high-demand, some of them may not stay for the entire conference.
As I understand it, if we remove ...
0
votes
0answers
35 views
Is it right to use comma before “here”?
Members of parliament can criticize other members, here.
Note the comma after members and before here.
In this particular case, is it okay? Or should the comma not be there?
0
votes
1answer
19 views
Is it okay to omit the space after a comma in square bracket references, e.g. “[45,46,47,64]” in a research paper
Should you still apply the rule that there is a space after the comma, or is it an accepted practice to omit the space in this case?
1
vote
2answers
53 views
Comma usage in a letter opening [duplicate]
My colleague and I disagree on how to open a letter; he believes you should separate the salutation from the name, like so:
"Hi, John"
I think this is nonsense and that the comma should go at the ...
1
vote
3answers
80 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.
...
21
votes
4answers
1k views
How should I punctuate around quotes?
The American convention in quotations is (typically) to place punctuation inside quoted text. But I always run into situations where the punctuation of the quote interferes with the punctuation of the ...
-1
votes
3answers
47 views
“It may be updated below.” or “It may be updated, below.” [closed]
Which is the correct way to punctuate this sentence? Is the comma necessary?
Context:
The following is our initial estimate. It may be udpated, below.
The intent is to say that half a page from ...
-3
votes
1answer
35 views
Included in or included on [closed]
Which of the following serene is correct?
Please note: the North stores are included in the report. We will update te report once the data is available( do I need a commas after "in the report"? )
...
0
votes
2answers
49 views
Overview of comma and interpunctuation rules
Is there any good summary of comma and interpunctuation rules? I know that English spelling traditionally requires fewer commas than, for example, German, however I am often unsure whether to use a ...
-2
votes
1answer
57 views
Correct comma placement in this sentence
Consider x, when the regulator is set to zero the integrand in x reduces to y.
Is this the correct comma placement? My thinking was "Consider x" is an introductory phrase, so it is OK to place ...
0
votes
1answer
48 views
Comma usage after the words well done
Do I need to put a comma after done in the sentence
Well done indeed!
0
votes
2answers
83 views
Who does “who” apply to in this example?
His governors, some of them incompetent and tactless, quarrelled bitterly with the people, who were constantly demanding greater political control.
In this sentence, who are demanding greater ...
0
votes
1answer
37 views
Pluralization rules for descriptions
Consider a sentence of the following form:
X, and the Y which comes with it, is good.
Assume X and Y are nouns, and X is singular. Should "is" be replaced with "are"? Is there some other ...
0
votes
3answers
93 views
Comma or full stop after ''come on''?
I’ve always wondered whether you should put a full stop or a comma after come on.
Come on, it’s just over there!
Come on. It’s just over there!
Which one is right?
-1
votes
0answers
50 views
Using otherwise to predicate an adjective. Should a pair of commas be used?
I would like to highlight the fact that the parameters are typically static in the following sentence:
In the case of this design the user can modify, otherwise static, parameters by using nested ...
0
votes
1answer
76 views
Do you have to capitalize a question that is after a comma?
Do you have to capitalize a question that is after a comma?
Example:
I'm not hungry, why do I have to eat?
EDIT
The sentence are formed by dependent clauses with the next structure:
...
-1
votes
1answer
36 views
Comma before indefinite pronoun
While I would surround a noun or pronoun with commas, should I do the same for indefinite pronouns? For example:
Have a good weekend, all.
I'm sorry, everybody, I can't do that.
Thanks.
-1
votes
0answers
9 views
What is the difference if we use a comma before the last item in a list? [duplicate]
I am always confused when using a comma in writing.
Is there a difference between the following?
sam, sali and jone
sam, sali, and jone
0
votes
3answers
105 views
Comma usage near title in quotes
I can't seem to find any answer in my high school grammar textbook regarding the use of commas after titles that appear in quotes. Is this question addressed by American style guides?
I recently ...
0
votes
1answer
43 views
Comma placement in “Another, just as important, aspect”
Is the comma placement correct in
Another, just as important, aspect is. . . .
or should they rather be omitted?
4
votes
2answers
173 views
Why is there a comma in “Man discusses his, wife's experience”
Why is there a comma after "his" in the headline? Does this mean his AND his wife's experience? Is it correct english, or slang?
"Man discusses his, wife's experience being injured during the Boston ...
12
votes
6answers
7k views
Using a comma before “but”
I was once told by an English professor that a comma should never be used before but in a sentence. For years, I have followed her advice but sometimes I just feel like it just needs to be there. On ...
3
votes
2answers
139 views
How to use AP Style commas after dates
I was wondering how you are supposed to use commas after full dates in AP style.
I've been told to always put a comma after the year, like in the sentence:
On April 4th, 2012, I found a cat.
...
-1
votes
2answers
110 views
Where do I have to put my commas?
Are the commas in the right places in the following sentence?
I want to combine my experiences in software development
and network administration with the skills I acquired at university in one ...
5
votes
3answers
1k views
Use of comma separating two adjectives
If I had the phrase
two blond haired, blue eyed people
would the comma be out of place?
should I hyphenate "blond haired" and "blue eyed"?
21
votes
5answers
6k views
Should there be a comma after “i.e.”?
If I remember correctly from English class, then one should put a comma after "i.e.", i.e., the Latin abbreviation for id est.
But lately I've seen the comma after "i.e." dropped in books. So what is ...
3
votes
1answer
702 views
Does a comma have to be used before 'because'?
I have a big house because my parents are rich.
I have a big house, because my parents are rich.
Are there are some exceptions as well?
3
votes
2answers
262 views
Punctuation with block-quotes
How do I properly place a comma after a big block-quote? Let's say I have a sentence like this:
The author states: < a big quote goes here. >, therefore...
Since my sentence continues after ...
4
votes
3answers
111 views
Is it true that which clause should always start with a comma? [duplicate]
Every time when I write a sentence in Microsoft Word like this:
the rats which are the food of snake are crazily growing.
It always recommends me to rewrite like this:
the rats, which are ...
0
votes
2answers
66 views
Is a comma appended to an ellipsis in the middle of a quotation?
Digging through every ELU question I can find on the matter, I still can’t locate a specific answer to this question of punctuation. Which of these is correct?
“Maybe...” I said, injecting an ...
-3
votes
2answers
243 views
Should there be a comma after “Thank you”?
Should there be a comma anywhere in the following sentence?
Thank you Annie for making us proud.
0
votes
3answers
187 views
Comma in “Is milk without coffee, considered latte?”
Is the presence of the comma in, "Is milk without coffee, considered latte?", acceptable usage?
11
votes
5answers
15k views
When do we need to put a comma after “so”?
I noticed that most of the times when the conjunction "so" is used at the beginning of a sentence, it is followed by a comma:
So, this gets published but the fact that it is inaccurate gets ...
7
votes
4answers
6k views
Placement of comma before quotation mark
What is the rule for comma placement before a quotation mark? When should it go before and when should it go after the quotation mark?
-1
votes
1answer
83 views
Comma or semicolon?
Which of the following is correct?
This not only produces higher success rates, it increases our energy and morale instead of depleting them.
This not only produces higher success rates; it ...
-1
votes
2answers
67 views
Correct use of comma?
Should there be a comma after 1975?
Peter Singer wrote Animal Liberation in 1975, igniting the modern animal movement.
-1
votes
1answer
103 views
“And those who were seen dancing, were thought to be crazy, by those who could not hear the music.” Are these commas required?
Just spotted this as an answer in Quora:
And those who were seen dancing, were thought to be crazy, by those who could not hear the music.
At first look, I thought the comma between dancing and ...
2
votes
1answer
816 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
2answers
141 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 ...
-1
votes
2answers
109 views
Can I use a gapping comma in this sentence?
Could you please help me correct this sentence? Thank you very much.
"The first thing I do in the morning after getting up is brush my teeth and wash my face, but the first thing he does is go on to ...
-3
votes
1answer
82 views
“Effective in” or “Effective at” [closed]
Two questions:
Should the following read "most effective at obtaining donations" or "most effective in obtaining donations?"
Is the dash after "future emails" a correct use of the dash or should it ...
-1
votes
1answer
67 views
Comma confusion in this sentence
This of course wasn't the only functionality that came with iCloud, but regardless, developers weren't exactly enthusiastic.
or
This of course wasn't the only functionality that came with iCloud, ...
0
votes
1answer
88 views
Comma Rules: Conflicting Rules Concerning the Setting Off of Commas
I've got a sentence where the independent clause is in the front, a contrasting phrase follows, and then a simile is made to modify or elaborate the contrasting phrase. I am wondering where commas ...
-1
votes
3answers
71 views
Is a comma needed here?
If I were to try and describe a book called "Book", is this sentence grammatically correct?
The book Book by Joe Bob is set in...
I was told that this sentence is incorrect, that commas must ...
2
votes
2answers
1k views
Punctuation in “or in other words”
In a Math.SE question, I used the sentence:
“some two of these propositions are true and the third one is false”, or in other words, “exactly 2 of 3 propositions are true”
Here I used “or in ...
3
votes
3answers
128 views
How to join two phrases sharing a common ending
One of my professors asked me if I would be working on an assignment alone or in a group. I responded by saying:
I was looking at the assignment and I feel that I am capable of, and therefore ...
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 ...
0
votes
3answers
108 views
Is the last comma in “A, B, and C, do X” correct? [duplicate]
Does the following sentence require a comma after the word "meal?"
Quizzing the waiter, complaining about the menu, and criticizing the meal, detract from your advocacy.
1
vote
2answers
360 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 ...
