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Rosyroja Posted 21 years ago
Grammar

Commas (To comma or not to comma)

0We have an ongoing tug-of-war with the surveyors about correct comma usage. Could someone please correct this sentence? Thanks - lunch is riding on it! 05002br
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00Based on our survey findings and not having evidence to the contrary it is our opinion tha thte shortages reported herein are due to pilferage and/or mis-delivery as alleged while in the care custody and control of the steamship company and/or their agents. 010id1
  

Top answer

0 Based on our survey findings, and not having evidence to the contrary, it is our opinion that the shortages reported herein are due to pilferage and/or mis-delivery, as alleged while in the care custody and control of the steamship company and/or their agents. 02br 02br 00That's what I'd write. 0-

— Pieanne

  • 0 Based on our survey findings, and not having evidence to the contrary, it is our opinion that the shortages reported herein are due to pilferage and/or mis-delivery, as alleged while in the care custody and control of the steamship company and/or their agents.
  • 02br 02br 00That's what I'd write.
  • 0-
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8 Answers
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0 Based on our survey findings, and not having evidence to the contrary, it is our opinion that the shortages reported herein are due to pilferage and/or mis-delivery, as alleged while in the care custody and control of the steamship company and/or their agents. 02br
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00That's what I'd write. 0-
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0 To pieanne, 02br
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00I believe you missed one (,) after "alleged", 02br
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00"Based on our survey findings, and not having evidence to the contrary, it is our opinion that the shortages reported herein are due to pilferage and/or mis-delivery, as alleged, while in the care custody and control of the steamship company and/or their agents. 0-
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0You're right Temico, thanks! 050010id1
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0 An alternative version might omit the comma before 'as alleged', and add one after 'care': 02br
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00"Based on our survey findings, and not having evidence to the contrary, it is our opinion that the shortages reported herein are due to pilferage and/or mis-delivery as alleged, while in the care, custody and control of the steamship company and/or their agents." 02br
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0 I'm with Mr. P on this one. 0-
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0 PS: 02br
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00I'm not sure I should bring this up...since lunch depends on it...But the 'while' clause appears to dangle. 02br
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00MrP 0-
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0 To MrPedantic, 02br
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00Omitting the comma before 'as alleged' will mean that the 'mis-delivery' was alleged and NOT both "pilferage and mis-delivery" were alleged. I guess that we will have to ask Rosyroja to confirm which was or were actually alleged in her( I believe) original sentence. 0-
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0 Hello temico 02br
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00To my ears, 'as alleged' would apply both to pilferage and misdelivery, if the comma were omitted. I'd be interested to hear other people's opinions though. 02br
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00MrP 0-
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