Comma or no comma

Question

Do you need a comma in the following sentence?You can't say, "You can't play."

Yoong Liat · Accepted Answer

A comma is not needed.

Philip · Answer

My studies have always told me that you use a comma to separate the quotation from the rest of the sentence.

Ferdis · Answer

Are you sure it is not required? A pause there seems natural, and many texts state that after any form of to say a comma is required. I thought that the quotation marks were not strictly required because this is a form of silent speech but that the comma is.

Philip · Answer

ferdisAre you sure it is not required? A pause there seems natural, and many texts state that after any form of to say a comma is required. I thought that the quotation marks were not strictly required because this is a form of silent speech but that the comma is.

Both are required, according to what I've always been taught. [I'm still waiting for my 'bible of punctuation' to be returned, so I can't cite my favorite source right now.]

Yoong Liat · Answer

Hi

Examples from BBC which leave out the comma.

BBC Wales - Raise Your Game - Heroes - Jody Cundy
You can't sacrifice anything other than your free time. You can't say 'I'm not training because I need to do schoolwork,' you need to do both of them to the best of your ability.
www.bbc.co.uk/wales/raiseyourgame/sites/ins.../jody_cundy.shtml

BBC Wales - Raise Your Game - Heroes - Christine Ohuruogu
You can't say 'I don't want to do it anymore, pack up and go home.' You can't call your coach for help, you have to do it yourself.
www.bbc.co.uk/wales/raiseyourgame/s.../christine_ohuruogu.shtml

Ferdis · Answer

Philip [I'm still waiting for my 'bible of punctuation' to be returned, so I can't cite my favorite source right now.]

What book is that? I've read a couple, such as "The Penguin's guide to punctuation", "The Penguin's writer's manual", "Line by line: how to edit your own writing" and "Eats, shoots & leaves", but I've always been left with questions about specific cases.

Philip · Answer

ferdis
Philip [I'm still waiting for my 'bible of punctuation' to be returned, so I can't cite my favorite source right now.]

What book is that? I've read a couple, such as "The Penguin's guide to punctuation", "The Penguin's writer's manual", "Line by line: how to edit your own writing" and "Eats, shoots & leaves", but I've always been left with questions about specific cases.

Eats Shoots and Leaves is a great book. I haven't considered using it as a manual, however. I'll have to take a look at it. The book I like is a text book used in some US schools during the late 1980's Idea and Expression has a unit titled, "Punctuation For Meaning". It largely replaces the "rules" with sensible explanations. It is not, of course, exhaustive in its instruction, but it certainly makes sense!

Yankee · Answer

It seems to me that this is a situation that could go either way. However, I would probably not include the comma. I might justify my decision on the information in #6 here:
http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/commas.htm

(Scroll down to number 6 and look at the sentence with "Sorry" embedded in it.)

BarbaraPA · Answer

Interestingly, YL, in both of the quoted examples, there is a comma splice, in which a comma incorrectly links two independent clauses, so I wouldn't take my punctuation cues from that article.

My original though was "Heck yes, you need that comm!" but it's not the normal manner of using "to say" (And then Pete said, "Good luck with that," as though he knew it was doomed from the start.)

We don't need one for I was thinking "Yes! Yes! That's the answer!" because it's a silent thought, so I'm on the fence with this one, but lean toward using it.

If you use it, no one will think it's wrong, but some people will think it's wrong if you omit it.

Mr Wordy · Answer

I personally would not use a comma here. I know that people do, and I may be contravening some punctuation rule, but to me it seems illogical.

Comma or no comma

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