Author Topic: Proper use of the comma (Read 2311 times)

Hawkmoon · « **on:** March 09, 2016, 05:48:23 PM »

The recent digression of the Ghostbusters thread into the nuances of punctuation brought to mind one of my pet punctuation peeves (notice how nicely that alliterates -- thank you). And I just encountered a perfect example of MISuse, in an article about Maria Sharapova and her doping admission.

The basic rule is, when commas are used to set off a subservient clause, the primary sentence should read correctly if the clause is removed.

Quote

Sharapova has dropped to No. 7 in the WTA rankings, and due to injuries, she has played just three tournaments and the Fed Cup final in the last eight months since Wimbledon.

That's the way it appears in the article. It's wrong -- and that's the way most writers today use it. I see it so often that I have to be constantly alert to catch myself when (not if) I do it.

If we remove the clause from the sentence above, we're left with the following:

"Sharapova has dropped to No. 7 in the WTA rankings she has played just three tournaments and the Fed Cup final in the last eight months since Wimbledon."

Which makes no sense. It's not one sentence, it's two sentences, without benefit of a period as a separator. But, move the leading comma just one word to the right and we get ...

"Sharapova has dropped to No. 7 in the WTA rankings and, due to injuries, she has played just three tournaments and the Fed Cup final in the last eight months since Wimbledon."

Now if we remove the clause we are left with a sentence that remains a proper sentence:

"Sharapova has dropped to No. 7 in the WTA rankings and she has played just three tournaments and the Fed Cup final in the last eight months since Wimbledon."

Thank you for your attention to the preceding public service announcement. We now return you to your regularly scheduled programming.

AmbulanceDriver · « **Reply #1 on:** March 09, 2016, 05:53:51 PM »

Ron · « **Reply #2 on:** March 09, 2016, 05:58:45 PM »

There was a time when I had a better grasp on punctuation and grammar.

After nearly two decades of not having to write anything other than service tickets I've forgotten most of what I've learned.

Now I just kind of wing it and hope for the best. I do find myself editing posts for clarity, eliminating "clunkiness", pretty regularly.

Ben · « **Reply #3 on:** March 09, 2016, 06:16:31 PM »

I worried about this stuff, a lot more, before I retired, and now I don't worry about it as much anymore, and in another five years, you won't be able to tell the difference, between a posting from me, and a posting from CSD.

Fly320s · « **Reply #4 on:** March 09, 2016, 06:29:33 PM »

Quote from: Hawkmoon on March 09, 2016, 05:48:23 PM

And I just encountered a perfect example of MISuse, in an article about Maria Sharapova and her doping admission.

I do believe that is a misuse of the common comma.

230RN · « **Reply #5 on:** March 09, 2016, 09:41:28 PM »

I find myself forgetting a lot of that stuff myself. It doesn't even come back after hitting my own knuckles with a ruler.

But my biggest problem is mixing up tenses and number.

Hawkmoon · « **Reply #6 on:** March 09, 2016, 09:43:17 PM »

Quote from: 230RN on March 09, 2016, 09:41:28 PM

I found myself forgetting a lot of that stuff myself. It doesn't even come back after hitting my own knuckles with a ruler.

You have to enlist the assistance of a nun or a brother for the knuckle rapping bit ...

MechAg94 · « **Reply #7 on:** March 10, 2016, 09:32:03 AM »

I was also thinking they could get away with the first comma only, but the way you moved it reads better.

I would rather they eliminate all commas in their writing than use them in the wrong way. Similar situation with using the wrong words. I have rephrased sentences completely because I couldn't remember if a particular word meant what I thought it meant.

seeker_two · « **Reply #8 on:** March 10, 2016, 12:08:32 PM »

Quote from: Hawkmoon on March 09, 2016, 05:48:23 PM

Which makes no sense. It's not one sentence, it's two sentences, without benefit of a period as a separator. But, move the leading comma just one word to the right and we get ...

"Sharapova has dropped to No. 7 in the WTA rankings and, due to injuries, she has played just three tournaments and the Fed Cup final in the last eight months since Wimbledon."

Now if we remove the clause we are left with a sentence that remains a proper sentence:

"Sharapova has dropped to No. 7 in the WTA rankings and she has played just three tournaments and the Fed Cup final in the last eight months since Wimbledon."

Seems like you have more need to learn the proper use of a semicolon; because, in this case, it would be grammatically correct.

Hawkmoon · « **Reply #9 on:** March 10, 2016, 09:45:49 PM »

Quote from: seeker_two on March 10, 2016, 12:08:32 PM

Seems like you have more need to learn the proper use of a semicolon; because, in this case, it would be grammatically correct.

Which would be grammatically correct, and where would the semicolon be placed?

I have no need to learn the proper use of the semicolon. I know how to use it, and I use it sparingly. But the topic of discussion wasn't the proper use of the semicolon, it was the improper use of the comma.

Start yer own thread if'n you want to discuss semicolons.

RocketMan · « **Reply #10 on:** March 13, 2016, 05:02:38 PM »

I would rather have a full and complete colon than a semicolon. I have enough digestive issues as it is.

Chester32141 · « **Reply #11 on:** March 13, 2016, 07:16:05 PM »

There's a bit running on local radio where a woman says, "It's about to get real up, in here ... " where I believe what she is supposed to say is, "It's about to get real, up in here ... " I can't tell if she just read it funny or if they are playing the bit because it sounds off ... local radio advertising can be pretty bad ...

grampster · « **Reply #12 on:** March 13, 2016, 07:22:11 PM »

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seeker_two · « **Reply #13 on:** March 13, 2016, 09:27:53 PM »

Quote from: Hawkmoon on March 10, 2016, 09:45:49 PM

Which would be grammatically correct, and where would the semicolon be placed?

I have no need to learn the proper use of the semicolon. I know how to use it, and I use it sparingly. But the topic of discussion wasn't the proper use of the semicolon, it was the improper use of the comma.

Start yer own thread if'n you want to discuss semicolons.

Quote

Sharapova has dropped to No. 7 in the WTA rankings; and, due to injuries, she has played just three tournaments and the Fed Cup final in the last eight months since Wimbledon."

Happy now?......

Hawkmoon · « **Reply #14 on:** March 14, 2016, 02:25:01 AM »

Quote from: seeker_two on March 13, 2016, 09:27:53 PM

Happy now?......

Nope. Once you change the comma to a semi-colon, you don't need the "and."

K Frame · « **Reply #15 on:** March 14, 2016, 07:41:12 AM »

Quote from: Hawkmoon on March 14, 2016, 02:25:01 AM

Nope. Once you change the comma to a semi-colon, you don't need the "and."

Co,rec;t.

K Frame · « **Reply #16 on:** March 14, 2016, 07:42:29 AM »

Why are women naturally proficient at punctuation?

Because early in life they're worried about the period, and later in life they're worried about the colon.

grampster · « **Reply #17 on:** March 14, 2016, 08:57:12 AM »

^^^^Mr. Irwin finally wins the innernets.

K Frame · « **Reply #18 on:** March 14, 2016, 09:47:14 AM »

Wish I could take credit for it. Heard it years ago when The Greaseman was on DC metro radio in the early 1990s.

Those were incredible times for DC morning drive radio.

The Greaseman on one station, Don and Mike on another, and Paul Harris and Danger Boy. I'm not sure, but Stern may also have still been on in the mornings in DC.

You were guaranteed of laughing the whole way to work if you had all three on your presets.

And, Donnie Simpson was also on morning drive. He's an icon in DC radio, but never really appealed to me.

seeker_two · « **Reply #19 on:** March 20, 2016, 08:58:30 PM »

Quote from: Hawkmoon on March 14, 2016, 02:25:01 AM

Nope. Once you change the comma to a semi-colon, you don't need the "and."

You can still use "and"...... but, if you use commas after it, you need to use the semicolon in front of it.

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Author Topic: Proper use of the comma (Read 2311 times)