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Anonymous Posted 18 years ago
Grammar

a quote as a noun equivalent

Hi,

I think my reasoning is faulted. Can you tell me why it is so.

A general goal would be, "Get in shape." But a specific goal would say, "Join a health club and work out 3 days a week."

I have difficulty understanding the correctness of the placements of commas for the sentences like the ones above. I happen to think those in quotes are like a noun or its equivalent and see no valid reason to have commas as they did.

A general goal would be this. But a specific goal would say this.

I think my reasoning is not sound (or faulted) in that it seems a known practice to write like this (with a comma before a quote):

John would say, "He would delivered the pizza as soon as possible."
  

Top answer

Hi, It's certainly common practice. But I wouldn't go so far as to say it's incorrect without a comma. I'd say the use of the comma reflects the fact that, in speech, most people would naturally pause before uttering the quotation.

  • Hi, It's certainly common practice.
  • But I wouldn't go so far as to say it's incorrect without a comma.
  • I'd say the use of the comma reflects the fact that, in speech, most people would naturally pause before uttering the quotation.
  • Best wishes, Clive
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1 Answers
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Hi,

It's certainly common practice. But I wouldn't go so far as to say it's incorrect without a comma.

I'd say the use of the comma reflects the fact that, in speech, most people would naturally pause before uttering the quotation.

Best wishes, Clive

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