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Mr. Tom Posted 12 years ago
Grammar

Punctuation is powerful

Hi

I don't think this works at all? Or does it?

A woman, without her man, is nothing.



Thanks,

Tom
  

Top answer

Mr. Tom I don't think this works at all? Or does it?

— Mister Micawber

  • Mr.
  • Tom I don't think this works at all?
  • Or does it?
  • Yes, it works fine.
  • That joke has been around for a long time now.
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3 Answers
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Mr. TomI don't think this works at all? Or does it?
Yes, it works fine. That joke has been around for a long time now.
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Mr. TomI don't think this works at all? Or does it?A woman, without her man, is nothing.
For the sake of the joke we are to suspend any knowledge we have of grammar and punctuation. So the joke works even if the punctuation doesn't. "without her man" can't be anything but restrictive in meaning, so the commas are wrong.

CJ
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I think commas can be used like m-dashes in this kind of 'proverb; that's why they don't bother me:

A woman—without her man—is nothing.
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