Hi, great Idea and I have a question

Question

Hi, I do work for a company where my spelling and punctuation are really important. I am hoping you can give me some advice and help here.

A few to start with,

Last time out...........Why exactly is this not hyphenated? if indeed it isn't.

and would this be correct?

......showed distinct promise, while billy was always near the front.

Do I have the 'while' in the right place?? and is there any reason where it would change.

I will probably end up being really annoying, but hope you don't mind.

Feel free to mark this effort too, if I have something else wrong.

CalifJim · Accepted Answer

Please give more context with your questions -- at least one complete sentence.

"last time out" seems fine.
It should be Billy, but other than that, there's nothing wrong with the second example.
I don't know where else you would put 'while'. It's fine as is.

Davidt · Answer

Sorry, let me do one sentance fully.

Jack ran really well to win the race, while Billy showed promise in second.

Hope that makes it easier to understand. I have seen a comma used after 'but' on some occasions, like

Jack ran really well to win the race but, Billy showed promise in second.

That may not be correct at all, but is there seperate cases where a comma would come before or after a 'but' in a sentance shaped like that.

With regards to the hyphens, I knew Last time out was not hyphened, just wondered why nto.

Thank-you all for your patience in my questions.

CalifJim · Answer

No, the comma would come before the "but" in that structure.

If you are speaking of a "time-out" in an athletic competition or something of that nature, then it is hyphenated:

It was the last time-out of the game.

If you are speaking of the last occurrence of some event or action, then don't hyphenate.

It was their last time out on a date before he had to leave for the army.

(That's why I asked for context!

)

Davidt · Answer

That you for clearing that up, even though we do not have time-outs over here in blighty.

The last question, for now atleast, is what structure of sentance would demand the comma to be placed after a 'but' or 'and'?

Is is as plain as :

Timmy was always winning the race but, even though he had cheated, was never satisfied with victory.

A rubbish attempt at a sentance, granted, but it was the best I could come up with sitting here.

Are there any cases where the structure would go:

Timmy was always winning the race but, was never satisfied with victory.

Again not the best example, but hope you get my drift..........

CalifJim · Answer

Yes, I get your drift very well!

Starting with the last one first:

Timmy was ... race but, was never satisfied ... (Wrong! Impossible! Bzzzzz! - that's the 'incorrect punctuation buzzer!)

Now watch this:

Timmy was ... race, but was never satisfied ... (Wrong! Bzzzzz!)
Reason: The second clause does not express its own subject; it's still using the subject "Timmy" from the first clause - so NO comma.

Now this:

Timmy was ... race but was never ... (Correct!)

And this:

Timmy was ... race, but he was never satisfied ... (Correct!)

Now for the other sentence. If you have a sort of parenthetical remark between "but" and whatever else follows, that remark is set off by commas, i.e., there is a comma before that phrase and after that phrase. But note that the comma is thought of as belonging "before the phrase", and not "after the 'but'", even though in practical terms it does end up after the "but". Bottom line, that's exactly the kind of case where the comma ends up "after 'but'" -- accidentally, so to speak, because it would be after any word that was there just before the phrase you are setting off with commas.

Clear? Hope so.

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