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Bino Posted 18 years ago
Grammar
Comma + coordinate conjunction with imperative clauses
"Stand up like a man, and take the punishment you deserve!"
I'm pretty sure that the comma in this phrase is correct according to the rules I was taught 40 years ago.
I believe that most punctuation textbook writers say, one way or the other, that there should always be some kind of punctuation mark between coordinate clauses.
Yet it seems that most writers omit the comma in phrases like the one above - especially if the two coordinate clauses are short. But should it really make a difference if I say:
"Stand up like a man, and take the punishment you deserve!" or
"Stand, and take your punishment!" ?
Am I out of date, or is it just that so many more people who don't know how to punctuate get "published" on the Internet nowadays?
Somebody enlighten me, please!
And if you could recommend a good, comprehensive textbook on punctuation, I'd be very grateful. There are literally hundreds of them, and I don't like the prospect of ordering them from an end until I find the right one.
Thanks ... Bino
I'm pretty sure that the comma in this phrase is correct according to the rules I was taught 40 years ago.
I believe that most punctuation textbook writers say, one way or the other, that there should always be some kind of punctuation mark between coordinate clauses.
Yet it seems that most writers omit the comma in phrases like the one above - especially if the two coordinate clauses are short. But should it really make a difference if I say:
"Stand up like a man, and take the punishment you deserve!" or
"Stand, and take your punishment!" ?
Am I out of date, or is it just that so many more people who don't know how to punctuate get "published" on the Internet nowadays?
Somebody enlighten me, please!
And if you could recommend a good, comprehensive textbook on punctuation, I'd be very grateful. There are literally hundreds of them, and I don't like the prospect of ordering them from an end until I find the right one.
Thanks ... Bino
Top answer
Hello Bino, there should always be some kind of punctuation mark between coordinate clauses. This is generally right... but yours are not coordinate clauses, because the second has no subject, and we cannot punctuate once (though we can do so twice) between S and V.
- Hello Bino, there should always be some kind of punctuation mark between coordinate clauses.
- This is generally right...
- but yours are not coordinate clauses, because the second has no subject, and we cannot punctuate once (though we can do so twice) between S and V.
- It's a little tricky here ; the first doesn't have a subject either-- but it is implied in the command.
- [You] Stand up like a man and take the punishment you deserve!
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5 Answers
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Hello Bino,
It's a little tricky here ; the first doesn't have a subject either-- but it is implied in th
Hello Bino,
there should always be some kind of punctuation mark between coordinate clauses.This is generally right... but yours are not coordinate clauses, because the second has no subject, and we cannot punctuate once (though we can do so twice) between S and V.
It's a little tricky here ; the first doesn't have a subject either-- but it is implied in th
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Hi, Bino. My grammar school days go back 60 years, so I know where you're coming from. There's no shortage of rules in ESL, but I've never found them useful when it comes to commas. The trend seems to be toward fewer commas. If the meaning is clear, don't interrupt the flow unnecessarily. At least, that's my approach. But I would never hesitate to add one if it makes the sentence less ambigu
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Hi Bino:
Please read the following: A woman without her man is nothing
I learned that there are rules on using the commas, semicolons, and colons, but the main point is how you want to convey the pace of reading to your reader.
Consider the effect of the mighty comma: A woman, without her, man is nothing
Elements of Style is a classic reference. There is a version availab
Please read the following: A woman without her man is nothing
I learned that there are rules on using the commas, semicolons, and colons, but the main point is how you want to convey the pace of reading to your reader.
Consider the effect of the mighty comma: A woman, without her, man is nothing
Elements of Style is a classic reference. There is a version availab
00
Wouldn't he have two implied subjects?
[You] Stand up like a man, and [You] take the punishment you deserve!
[You] Stand up like a man, and [You] take the punishment you deserve!
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