do we need a comma here..

Question

I keep coming across examples that I feel use comma in wrong places.. In the following example, I think comma between than and many
isn't needed.. Can anyone of the forum gurus please explain it for me.. ? Thank you..

Although Tonya is as gifted as, if not more gifted than, many of her colleagues, she is extremely modest and will not publish her romance novel.

Clive · Accepted Answer

Hi,

I keep coming across examples that I feel use comma in wrong places..<<< So do I. In the following example, I think comma between than and many
isn't needed.. Can anyone of the forum gurus please explain it for me.. ? Thank you..

Although Tonya is as gifted as, if not more gifted than, many of her colleagues, she is extremely modest and will not publish her romance novel.

The comma is needed. The commas before and after if not more gifted than are used together by the writer to make these words parenthetical, to separate them from the main part of the clause, which is Although Tonya is as gifted as many of her colleagues . . .

A comma represents a pause. Try reading this sentence aloud. The writer wants you to pause before 'if', and again after 'than'.

We live in an age when people don't seem to use as many commas as they used to. Perhaps it's because we are all in a hurry, we don't like to pause in our lives or in our speaking? Another choice would be to omit both commas. I'd prefer to leave them in.

Best wishes, Clive

Anonymous · Answer

thanks a lot Clive.. Just 2 more quick questions..

1. When we are using "not only.... but also .. " , do we need a comma before but ?

2. We use comma after however as in "However, I told him.... " etc.. Is the comma usage in "But, I told him .. " correct ??

I am very much confused with using comma and "but" togethor.. I am not clear in which all situations we need comma when using
but..I know that there are some exceptions..

thanks a lot..

Sharad.

Clive · Answer

Hi Sharad,

1. When we are using "not only.... but also .. " , do we need a comma before but ? Generally speaking, it's not needed. If the two parts of the sentence are long, sometimes some people will put a comma to help make the sentence easier to read and understand.

I like not only Coke but also Pepsi.

I like not only cooking delicious dinners for my friends, but also riding my bicycle in the park.

2. We use comma after however as in "However, I told him.... " etc.. Yes.

Is the comma usage in "But, I told him .. " correct ?? You shouldn't really start a sentence with 'but'. People who do this well are usually people who have a good knowledge of English style. They do it to make the sentence more 'dramatic', more 'striking'. For that reason, they put a comma after 'but' to indicate a pause that allows us to wonder about what is going to be said next.

Best wishes again, Clive

Anonymous · Answer

Thanks Clive..

MrPedantic · Answer

Sharad I am very much confused with using comma and "but" togethor.. I am not clear in which all situations we need comma when using
but..I know that there are some exceptions..

Do you read newspapers in English, Sharad?

MrP

Anonymous · Answer

Once in a while, I do read newspaper..

Sad that I still have basic grammar doubts..

-

MrPedantic · Answer

If you read one or two reputable newspapers regularly (and intensively), you should acquire an ear for the placing of punctuation marks.

MrP

Anonymous · Answer

The "if not more gifted than" is an interjection its like an interuption.

If i were to say " Linda,my mom, is a fast runner."

the comma is needed to explain the thing previous to it, so the "if not more gifted than" is interupting the sentence to add and give futher detail on thing previous to it. Whenever putting an interuption in your writing you need commas on btoh sides of it. Just thought it may help your own writing to understand where it came from and why the comma is needed there and can not be removed.

Anonymous · Answer

This is a very interesting question. Remember the comma usage rule that all nonessential elements should be comma separated. Now, read the sentence and identify the nonessential element, which is "if not more gifted than." Now read the actual sentence as :Although Tonya is as gifted as many of her colleagues, she is extremely modest and will not publish her romance novel. This sentence makes perfect sense. Now, the nonessential element added should be separated by comma, whether it's before than or after, despite it's place in the sentence.

do we need a comma here..

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