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Twistedthistle Posted 12 years ago
Grammar

Does the if clause need a comma here?

Hi everyone, in the following sentence,

"If something is "late" it is not "on time."

do you think the if-clause needs a comma after it? i.e., "if something is "late," it is not "on time."

I ask because i somehow feel that the "conditional" aspect in this sentence is not really strong enough to merit a comma. The if clause seems to me to be more explicative than conditional. What do you think? Is this a strong enough reason to flout convention?

Thanks in advance

TT
  

Top answer

"do you think the if-clause needs a comma after it? " No, not really, though strict construction requires it. twistedthistle I ask because i somehow feel that the "conditional" aspect in this sentence is not really strong enough to merit a comma.

— Mister Micawber

  • "do you think the if-clause needs a comma after it?
  • " No, not really, though strict construction requires it.
  • twistedthistle I ask because i somehow feel that the "conditional" aspect in this sentence is not really strong enough to merit a comma.
  • The if clause seems to me to be more explicative than conditional.
  • I think that is irrelevant.
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2 Answers
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twistedthistle"If something is "late" it is not "on time."do you think the if-clause needs a comma after it? i.e., "if something is "late," it is not "on time."
No, not really, though strict construction requires it.
twistedthistleI ask because i somehow feel that the "conditional" aspect in this sentence is not really strong enough to
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