0
Anonymous Posted 15 years ago
Grammar
Comma question
Hello,
In each of the following sentences, are the commas absolutely necessary?
Professional circus clowns, Jim and Cindy, attend many concerts.
Presidential candidates, Toby and Jane, are scheduled to pet the animals.
The components of these sentences could be rearranged in a way that definitely seems to require both commas (Jim and Cindy, professional circus clows, attend many concerts.), but assume for this question that they need to stay in the order written.
Thanks
In each of the following sentences, are the commas absolutely necessary?
Professional circus clowns, Jim and Cindy, attend many concerts.
Presidential candidates, Toby and Jane, are scheduled to pet the animals.
The components of these sentences could be rearranged in a way that definitely seems to require both commas (Jim and Cindy, professional circus clows, attend many concerts.), but assume for this question that they need to stay in the order written.
Thanks
Top answer
Hi, No. One way to think of this is to consider that the leading phrases are like a title. We don't say 'President, Obama, lives in Washington'.
- Hi, No.
- One way to think of this is to consider that the leading phrases are like a title.
- We don't say 'President, Obama, lives in Washington'.
- Another way to think about it is this.
- If you said this aloud to someone, would you want to pause in those places in order to help th other peron understand?
Get the Weekly English Kit 📬
New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.
3 Answers
0
Hi,
No.
One way to think of this is to consider that the leading phrases are like a title.
We don't say 'President, Obama, lives in Washington'.
Another way to think about it is this. If you
No.
One way to think of this is to consider that the leading phrases are like a title.
We don't say 'President, Obama, lives in Washington'.
Another way to think about it is this. If you
00
Thanks, that is what I was thinking also. I usually use the unscientific "would I pause if I were speaking" test, and those sentences fail.
However, latley I have seen commas used frequently in the above situations. I will try to keep an eye out for similar examples, because I'm not 100% sure that my test sentences are exactly representative.
However, latley I have seen commas used frequently in the above situations. I will try to keep an eye out for similar examples, because I'm not 100% sure that my test sentences are exactly representative.
00
Related Questions