Just a query about punctuation.

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kate
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Just a query about punctuation.

Postby kate » Sat Jan 21, 2006 3:25 pm

Could someone please confirm whether a comma is needed before or after a conjunction,I was always taught that no comma is required at either time but recently I have noticed newspapers and other texts doing just that. Is my understanding wrong? :?
I never make mistakes,just unavoidable errors!

Flaminius
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Postby Flaminius » Sun Jan 22, 2006 9:43 am

I don't think comma is necessary after a conjunction. But commas in that position can indicate a pause held between the conjunction and succeeding elements of the sentence.

Stargzer
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Re: Just a query about punctuation.

Postby Stargzer » Mon Jan 23, 2006 1:13 am

Could someone please confirm whether a comma is needed before or after a conjunction, I was always taught that no comma is required at either position but recently I have noticed newspapers and other texts doing just that. Is my understanding wrong? :?
If you are talking about creating a series of three, four, or five or more items, you need a comma to separate them. However, there has long been a debate as to whether a comma was needed after the next-to-the-last item in the series (i. e., after the "four" above). This also applies to a series of six, seven, eight, and nine or more items. I think it's more a matter of style than grammar. In a newspaper or something like the US Congressional Record, where a lot of stuff is printed on a daily basis, not using the last comma saved not only ink but also the lead type for a comma and the time to find and set it back in the old days of moveable type, long before word processors and word processing software on personal computers. Now that computers have replaced human typesetters the time involved no longer matters.

In part, the current GPO (Government Printing Office) Style Manual in part has this to say:
8.42. After each member within a series of three or more words, phrases, letters, or figures used with and, or, or nor.

red, white, and blue
horses, mules, and cattle; but horses and mules and
cattle
by the bolt, by the yard, or in remnants
a, b, and c
neither snow, rain, nor heat
2 days, 3 hours, and 4 minutes (series); but 70 years 11
months 6 days (age)

8.43. Before the conjunction in a compound sentence
containing two or more independent clauses, each of which could
have been written as a simple sentence.

Fish, mollusks, and crustaceans were plentiful in the
lakes, and turtles frequented the shores.
The boy went home alone, and his sister remained with the
crowd.
Obviously, things can vary on your side of The Pond. :)
Regards//Larry

"To preserve liberty, it is essential that the whole body of the people always possess arms, and be taught alike, especially when young, how to use them."
-- Attributed to Richard Henry Lee

Davekent
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Postby Davekent » Fri Apr 14, 2006 9:41 am

The comma after the penultimate item in a list: first, second, and third is called a "Harvard comma." Some call it the "Oxford comma" or "serial comma."

It's a stylistic issue. Either way is correct. Technical writers prefer it as it lowers the risk of ambiguity. Journalists and advertisers think it merely takes up valuable space.

Perry
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Postby Perry » Sat Apr 15, 2006 12:31 am

If only the Microsoft Word programmers would read this thread (and a few grammer texbooks while they are at it)! :roll:
"Time is nature's way of keeping everything from happening all at once. Lately it hasn't been working."
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David McWethy
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Re: Just a query about punctuation.

Postby David McWethy » Tue Aug 14, 2012 1:31 pm

I remember a situation I encountered during the reconstruction and remodeling of an historic old building: The part of the plans and specifications dealing with insulating the HVAC ducts, as prepared by the mechanical engineer, read:
All supply ducts and return air ducts located in the attic shall be lined on the inside with 1"...insulation....
The intention was clear (to the owner and the architect): The ducts to be insulated were those which supplied heated or cooled air, wherever they were located; and those return air ducts located in the uninsulated attic.

During one of my inspections I noticed some uninsulated supply-air ductwork being installed; when I brought this to the attention of the contractor he referred me to the contract documents portion, which he was reading as if it were written: The ducts to be insulated were only those supply ducts and return air ducts that were located in the attic; it was obvious, then, that no insulation was required for the ducts located in the between-floors plenum.

One phrase; two widely disparate interpretations (both of which were valid), all because of a missing comma. Had the phrase been written
All supply ducts, and return air ducts located in the attic, shall be lined on the inside with 1"...insulation.
it's meaning would have been crystal-clear.
"The time has come," the Walrus said, "to talk of many things...."

Perry Lassiter
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Re: Just a query about punctuation.

Postby Perry Lassiter » Wed Dec 25, 2013 4:24 pm

I've always thought clarity was the chief goal here, so an excellent illustation, Mcwethy!

Welcome to the Agora, Kiri. Keep hanging around and posting please.
pl

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Re: Just a query about punctuation.

Postby saparris » Fri Jul 11, 2014 1:09 am

Let's get grammatical here. Two main clauses are joined by a comma and a coordinating conjunction (and, or, nor, for, but, yet, so). Example: "I forgot to eat lunch, so I started getting really hungry in the early afternoon."

However, if the coordinating conjunction is used simply with a compound subject or compound verb, no comma is needed. Examples: "John and I decided to carpool to work every day." "Miranda put on her best dress and proceeded to the interview." These are still simple sentences with more than one subject or verb.

Subordinating conjunction are a different matter. Introductory subordinate clauses using a subordinating conjunction are typically set off with a comma. Example: "Because I could not stop for death, he kindly stopped for me."

Subordinate clauses following main clauses are separated with commas if the subordinate clause is restrictive but do NOT use commas in they are non-restrictive. Examples: "I ordered steak because I was hungry" (restrictive) and " I ordered steak, although I was not hungry" (non-restrictive).

In short, most commas depend on the grammatical context, not on pausing.
Ars longa, vita brevis

Perry Lassiter
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Re: Just a query about punctuation.

Postby Perry Lassiter » Fri Jul 11, 2014 7:27 pm

But clarity should rule! McWethy's illustration above does not look grammatically like it needs a comma. However, the fact that someone did misinterpret it demonstrates beautifully why everything should be made absolutely clear. If it takes another, that is not strictly needed grammatically, Then let it be added.
pl


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