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Anonymous Posted 18 years ago
Grammar
optional comma placement?
Hi,
I think the following shows the case of optional comma placement. I think a comma (and some other punctuation marks??) can be used to allow some breathing space as readers read certain part of a text and these seem to do that. As to the semicolon, would you say it is used since what followed after 'but' has an internal comma?
He was begging for change; but he was shivering and his voice dying down, so that no one was able to hear what he was saying.
How about this? How can you decide if what follows a comma here is an essential element or not? Is the underlined part treated as essential or unessential? If essential, why does it have a comma?
I tried to explain it in plain and simple English, without putting many unnecessary details.
I think the following shows the case of optional comma placement. I think a comma (and some other punctuation marks??) can be used to allow some breathing space as readers read certain part of a text and these seem to do that. As to the semicolon, would you say it is used since what followed after 'but' has an internal comma?
He was begging for change; but he was shivering and his voice dying down, so that no one was able to hear what he was saying.
How about this? How can you decide if what follows a comma here is an essential element or not? Is the underlined part treated as essential or unessential? If essential, why does it have a comma?
I tried to explain it in plain and simple English, without putting many unnecessary details.
Top answer
Anonymous He was begging for change but he was shivering, and his voice dying down so that no one was able to hear what he was saying. I would punctuate as shown above.
- Anonymous He was begging for change but he was shivering, and his voice dying down so that no one was able to hear what he was saying.
- I would punctuate as shown above.
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2 Answers
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AnonymousHe was begging for change but he was shivering, and his voice dying down so that no one was able to hear what he was saying.I would punctuate as shown above.
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Hi,
I think the following shows the case of optional comma placement. I think a comma (and some other punctuation marks??) can be used to allow some breathing space as readers read certain part of a text Yes and these seem to do that. As to the semicolon, would you say it is used since what followed after 'but' has an internal comma? No, I wouldn't.
He was begging
I think the following shows the case of optional comma placement. I think a comma (and some other punctuation marks??) can be used to allow some breathing space as readers read certain part of a text Yes and these seem to do that. As to the semicolon, would you say it is used since what followed after 'but' has an internal comma? No, I wouldn't.
He was begging
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