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JJDouglas Posted 10 years ago
Grammar

Is a comma necessary here to separate the ideas?

"Where's all the new features, and the updated design that you promised a few weeks ago?"

OK, so here the only thing that "you promised a few weeks ago" is meant to modify is the "updated design", not the "new features" (let's say they were promised a lot earlier). Without the comma, it would read as though both were promised a few weeks ago, which is not what I want to imply. Is the comma therefore necessary, even though under normal circumstances it would be considered an error?
  

Top answer

JJDouglas Is a comma necessary here to separate the ideas? No; in fact, it is wrong. It is only confusing.

— Mister Micawber

  • JJDouglas Is a comma necessary here to separate the ideas?
  • No; in fact, it is wrong.
  • It is only confusing.
  • JJDouglas the only thing that "you promised a few weeks ago" is meant to modify is the "updated design", not the "new features" JJDouglas Without the comma, it would read as though both were promised a few weeks ago, which is not what I want to imply.
  • So recast: Where is t he updated design that you promised a few weeks ago, as well as the new features that you promised earlier?
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5 Answers
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JJDouglasIs a comma necessary here to separate the ideas?
No; in fact, it is wrong. It is only confusing.
JJDouglasthe only thing that "you promised a few weeks ago" is meant to modify is the "updated design", not the "new features"
JJDouglasWithout the comma, it would read as though both were promis
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Thank you for your reply. 
Mister MicawberWhere is the updated design that you promised a few weeks ago, as well as the new features that you promised earlier?
So are commas before "as well as" more acceptable than before "and" (when not introducing an independent clause, that is)? Would replacing "as well as" with "and" in your revision while also keeping the c
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JJDouglas"Where's all the new feature
Should that not be where are, instead of where's?
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AnonymousShould that not be where are, instead of where's?
Yep, you're absolutely right – D'oh!
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JJDouglasare commas before "as well as" more acceptable than before "and" (when not introducing an independent clause, that is)?
Yes.
JJDouglas Would replacing "as well as" with "and" in your revision while also keeping the comma be wrong, too?
Yes.
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