[Essay] THe use of commas in writing

[mendezmorrain]

Hello Fellow Teachers,

I have a little problem that I would like to find an answer to.

Below are several sentences that maybe simplify the problem.

Which sentence is wrong?

#1 When Barry moved to Alsaka, he was ten.
#2 When Barry moved to Alaska he was ten.

#3 Unfortunately, he had already left his office when she arrived.
#4 Unfortunately, he had already left his office, when she arrived

#5 I like pineapple, pears and apples but not grapes.
#6 I like pineapple, pears, and apples, but not pears.

Let me know what you think
Sincerely
Ron

 

[bhaisahab]

Hello Fellow Teachers,

I have a little problem that I would like to find an answer to.

Below are several sentences that maybe simplify the problem.

Which sentence is wrong?

#1 When Barry moved to Alsaka, he was ten.
#2 When Barry moved to Alaska he was ten.

#3 Unfortunately, he had already left his office when she arrived.
#4 Unfortunately, he had already left his office, when she arrived

#5 I like pineapple, pears and apples but not grapes.
#6 I like pineapple, pears, and apples, but not pears.

Let me know what you think
Sincerely
Ron

#1, #4, #5 and #6 are all wrong.

 

[tedtmc]

Hello Fellow Teachers,

I have a little problem that I would like to find an answer to.

Below are several sentences that may[STRIKE]be [/STRIKE]simplify(illustrate?) the problem.

Which sentence is wrong?

#1 When Barry moved to Alsaka, he was ten.
#2 When Barry moved to Alaska he was ten.

#3 Unfortunately, he had already left his office when she arrived.
#4 Unfortunately, he had already left his office, when she arrived

#5 I like pineapple, pears and apples but not grapes.
#6 I like pineapple, pears, and apples, but not pears.

Let me know what you think
Sincerely
Ron

1, 3 & 5 are preferred.

not a teacher

 

[emsr2d2]

#1 When Barry moved to Alsaka, he was ten. Yes.
#2 When Barry moved to Alaska he was ten. No.

#3 Unfortunately, he had already left his office when she arrived. Yes.
#4 Unfortunately, he had already left his office, when she arrived. No.

#5 I like pineapple, pears and apples but not grapes. No.
#6 I like pineapple, pears, and apples, but not [STRIKE]pears[/STRIKE] grapes. No.

Let me know what you think.
Sincerely
Ron

See above. As someone else said, 5 and 6 are both incorrect. Have another try at that one.

 

[bhaisahab]

Sorry, I meant #2 is wrong not #1.

 

[tedtmc]

What is wrong with #5?

 

[5jj]

What is wrong with #5?

"But not grapes" needs to be clearly separated from what goes before,

 

[tedtmc]

"But not grapes" needs to be clearly separated from what goes before,

Separated as in a separate sentence? Why can't it be in the same sentence?

 

[5jj]

Separated as in a separate sentence? Why can't it be in the same sentence?

It can, but it needs to be separated from the rest by a comma. There is a change of direction from liking to not liking

I like (1) pineapple, (2) pears and (3) apples, (change) but not grapes.

 

[emsr2d2]

In your 5th example, you had commas in all the right places except one:

I like pineapple, pears and apples, but not grapes.

 

[tedtmc]

It can, but it needs to be separated from the rest by a comma. There is a change of direction from liking to not liking

I like (1) pineapple, (2) pears and (3) apples, (change) but not grapes.

Rules for Comma Usage

Use a comma + a little conjunction (and, but, for, nor, yet, or, so) to connect two independent clauses, as in "He hit the ball well, but he ran toward third base."

Contending that the coordinating conjunction is adequate separation, some writers will leave out the comma in a sentence with short, balanced independent clauses (such as we see in the example just given). If there is ever any doubt, however, use the comma, as it is always correct in this situation.

Rules for Comma Usage

Rule 12. Use a comma to separate two strong clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction--and, or, but, for, nor. You can omit the comma if the clauses are both short. Examples: I have painted the entire house, but he is still
working on sanding the doors.
I paint and he writes.

http://www.grammarbook.com/punctuation/commas.asp


Apparently, the use of a comma before the 'but' is not a 'must'.

 

[5jj]

Apparently, the use of a comma before the 'but' is not a 'must'.

It is in the sentence we are talking about, in my opinion.

 

[tedtmc]

It is in the sentence we are talking about, in my opinion.

It is in #6 but not #5.
So, both #5 and #6 are correct, then?

 

[5jj]

So, both #5 and #6 are correct, then?

They are correct only with a comma after 'apples'.

 

[tedtmc]

They are correct only with a comma after 'apples'.

I said the comma is not a 'must' according to the references on the 'Rules for Comma Usage' I gave in Post # 11 above.

 

[bhaisahab]

I said the comma is not a 'must' according to the references on the 'Rules for Comma Usage' I gave in Post # 11 above.

#5 is only correct with a comma after "apples". You have been told this repeatedly by an experienced and respected English teacher. Do you think you know better?

 

[tedtmc]

#5 is only correct with a comma after "apples". You have been told this repeatedly by an experienced and respected English teacher. Do you think you know better?

That is not my opinion, that is what I got from the references.
The 'rules of usage of comma' which I quoted are not correct then?
If I know better, I would not have bothered to check with the rules.

 

[emsr2d2]

The use of a comma after the "and" is not a must in ALL cases but sometimes it is absolutely required.

In the sentence given, it is required.

In many other sentences, it may not be.

 

[5jj]

That is not my opinion, that is what I got from the references.
The 'rules of usage of comma' which I quoted are not correct then?

Such 'rules are often very useful as a general guide. They do not, cannot, cover every possible sentence.In the sentence we have been discussing, in which the first clause contains commas (for the list), some form of punctuation is necessary to divide the clauses.


Note that your reference said, (my emphasis added):

"Contending that the coordinating conjunction is adequate separation, some writers will leave out the comma in a sentence with short, balanced independent clauses (such as we see in the example just given). If there is ever any doubt, however, use the comma, as it is always correct in this situation."

 

[bhaisahab]

Such 'rules are often very useful as a general guide. They do not, cannot, cover every possible sentence.In the sentence we have been discussing, in which the first clause contains commas (for the list), some form of punctuation is necessary to divide the clauses.


Note that your reference said, (my emphasis added):

"Contending that the coordinating conjunction is adequate separation, some writers will leave out the comma in a sentence with short, balanced independent clauses (such as we see in the example just given). If there is ever any doubt, however, use the comma, as it is always correct in this situation."

I was just going to copy and paste that as well.