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Thread: Who knows how to put commas correctly?

  1. #1
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    Who knows how to put commas correctly?

    I'm helping someone to proof read a text and so far, I have put some extra commas in, but I think maybe there need to be more. There are very few typos/spelling mistakes, so that is nice.

    Would anyone like to have a look, or explain where to put commas?



    "I don't know which weapons will be used in the third World war, but in the fourth, it will be sticks and stones" --- Albert Einstein.


  2. #2
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    One thing that sticks in my mind is as much of a matter of preference.

    For a series of objects: "American" style: A, B and C. "Oxford" style: A, B, and C. This often comes up in more complex sentences.

    Used after a quote: He said, "xxx".

    There are heaps of others. You can probably get a lot of good info by Googling English grammar.

    *This is for the English language, which I assume you're asking about!* (Yes I did end a sentence in a preposition...)
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  3. #3
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    Smokey hit the nail on the head. Some people prefer to use serial commas: a, b, and c. Others use commas like: a, b and c. It depends on the writer and the audience. I'm a freelance writer and the company I'm currently working for insists we use serial commas, which drive me crazy.

    A good rule of thumb is...when in doubt, leave it out.

  4. #4
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    Thanks! I would use it like: a, b and c. I suppose in some cases, a comma after "and" is in order, but not always.

    Unfortunatly I didn't learn grammar using the Latin terms, but I get by pretty well, don't you think?

    I'll have to write down what preposition is, along with conjunction, etc. Then I can look things up on the web.



    "I don't know which weapons will be used in the third World war, but in the fourth, it will be sticks and stones" --- Albert Einstein.


  5. #5
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    In that last example you might put a comma after b but never "and".

    There is a wonderful book by Lynn Truss called Eats, Shoots and Leaves. Putting the comma after b is what lawyers would do.

    I found a couple of links:

    http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/607/02/

    http://grammar.about.com/od/punctuat...commaguide.htm

    Hope they help.
    "Do or do not. There is no try." -- Yoda

  6. #6
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    I would be happy to take a look at it, Randi.

  7. #7
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    Thanks for the links.

    Johanna, I sent you a PM.



    "I don't know which weapons will be used in the third World war, but in the fourth, it will be sticks and stones" --- Albert Einstein.


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