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Sailsofoblivion Posted 12 years ago
Grammar
Punctuating a long sentance?
Hi, I'm struggling to punctuate this sentence, it's rather long, and I am not sure if my use of a dash is grammatically acceptable, but if I were to use a comma, it becomes a little clunky.
'God was a saving ‘person’ constantly spoken about in my house, and it was not until I entered a non-denominational high school that I even realised that there was such a thing as Atheism - and in discovering Atheism, I discovered Agnosticism.'
Thanks in advance,
Emma
'God was a saving ‘person’ constantly spoken about in my house, and it was not until I entered a non-denominational high school that I even realised that there was such a thing as Atheism - and in discovering Atheism, I discovered Agnosticism.'
Thanks in advance,
Emma
Top answer
I don't think it is terribly long or awkward at all. The m-dash (not a hyphen) is fine for this register. 'Saving person' is a bit odd; what is wrong with 'saviour'?
- I don't think it is terribly long or awkward at all.
- The m-dash (not a hyphen) is fine for this register.
- 'Saving person' is a bit odd; what is wrong with 'saviour'?
- It could be tightened in a couple of minor places; you do over-punctuate a bit: *** was a saviour constantly spoken about in my house, and it was not until I entered a non-denominational high school that I realised there was such a thing as atheism—and while discovering atheism, I discovered agnosticism.
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4 Answers
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I don't think it is terribly long or awkward at all. The m-dash (not a hyphen) is fine for this register. 'Saving person' is a bit odd; what is wrong with 'saviour'? It could be tightened in a couple of minor places; you do over-punctuate a bit:
*** was a saviour constantly spoken about in my house, and it was not until I entered a non-denominational high school that I realised ther
*** was a saviour constantly spoken about in my house, and it was not until I entered a non-denominational high school that I realised ther
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This is the following sentence, am I right in thinking that the use of an m-dash isn't needed here, but works in the preceding sentence as it's adding on extra information?
Throughout high school, Agnosticism was compatible with my view of the world; I was open to faith and doubt, but not anymore.
Throughout high school, Agnosticism was compatible with my view of the world; I was open to faith and doubt, but not anymore.
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There is no call to capitalize agnosticism or atheism; we do not capitalize deism, either.
I would use a period; the two sentences are not so closely related:
Throughout high school, agnosticism was compatible with my view of the world. I was open to faith and doubt, but not anymore.
I would use a period; the two sentences are not so closely related:
Throughout high school, agnosticism was compatible with my view of the world. I was open to faith and doubt, but not anymore.
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