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Therealdrag0 Posted 14 years ago
Linguistics Studies
Comma and conjunction before dependent clause?
As I understand it, when you use a comma and a coordinating conjunction, both sides of the comma should be independent clauses. However, I see a lot of examples where this is not the case. What is the precedent for this? Thanks!
Example: "She was the mother of three other foals, and was inducted into the AQHA Hall of Fame in 2009."
Shouldn't there be no comma, since the second clause doesn't have it's own subject?
Example: "She was the mother of three other foals, and was inducted into the AQHA Hall of Fame in 2009."
Shouldn't there be no comma, since the second clause doesn't have it's own subject?
Top answer
There should be no comma. Some writers insert it to clarify the sentence components instead of taking the time and thought to recast the sentence: The mother of three other foals , she was inducted into the AQHA Hall of Fame in 2009.
- There should be no comma.
- Some writers insert it to clarify the sentence components instead of taking the time and thought to recast the sentence: The mother of three other foals , she was inducted into the AQHA Hall of Fame in 2009.
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13 Answers
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There should be no comma. Some writers insert it to clarify the sentence components instead of taking the time and thought to recast the sentence:
The mother of three other foals, she was inducted into the AQHA Hall of Fame in 2009.
The mother of three other foals, she was inducted into the AQHA Hall of Fame in 2009.
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Don't read Wikipedia for examples of good writing. It is unedited. Not only should there be no comma in that sentence, it absurdly yokes two unrelated thoughts, unless the AQHA Hall of Fame is for equine mothers of triplets. What am I saying? Horses don't have mothers, they have dams. So, Wikipedia strikes again: bad English irrelevantly pushing a feministic animal rights agenda.
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Hi,
As I understand it, when you use a comma and a coordinating conjunction, both sides of the comma should be independent clauses. However, I see a lot of examples where this is not the case. What is the precedent for this? Thanks!
Example: "She was the mother of three other foals, and was inducted into the AQHA Hall of Fame in 2009."
Shouldn't there be no comma, since
As I understand it, when you use a comma and a coordinating conjunction, both sides of the comma should be independent clauses. However, I see a lot of examples where this is not the case. What is the precedent for this? Thanks!
Example: "She was the mother of three other foals, and was inducted into the AQHA Hall of Fame in 2009."
Shouldn't there be no comma, since
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You see this in novels, therealdrag0, because it’s commonly used. It’s acceptable in British English.
As enoon suggests, it’s not particularly good English, because it links two unrelated thoughts. However, if one is going to do this, and many, especially journalists, do, using the comma does does suggest Clive’s slight pause that comes before the second clause is uttered.
Recas
As enoon suggests, it’s not particularly good English, because it links two unrelated thoughts. However, if one is going to do this, and many, especially journalists, do, using the comma does does suggest Clive’s slight pause that comes before the second clause is uttered.
Recas
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Recasting as The mother of three other foals, she was inducted into the AQHA Hall of Fame in 2009 still links two unrelated ideas.-- Don't be ridiculous; it all depends on the context.
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Mister MicawberDon't be ridiculous; it all depends on the context.Well, I suppose that if producing more than three foals is a justification for being inducted into the AQHA Hall of Fame, then the ideas are related.
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You can put a comma anywhere you want in fiction and poetry and your letter to your auntie. That's not what we're talking about. Textbook-level formal writing forbids a comma there. In formal writing, the comma is not for taking breaths, it is a mechanical device whose use is prescribed by editorial conventions, and this is one of them. This comma is not the crime of the century, but it brought it
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enoonTextbook-level formal writing forbids a comma there. In formal writing, the comma is not for taking breaths, it is a mechanical device whose use is prescribed by editorial conventions, and this is one of them.That may be the case in American English, but it is not the case in British English. For us, that comma is acceptable.
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fivejedjonThat may be the case in American English, but it is not the case in British English. For us, that comma is acceptable.I would love to see that stated in a British stylebook. Which one do you use? I'll buy it.
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