0
JJDouglas Posted 11 years ago
Grammar
Questions about 'Punctuation' book by Frederick William Hamilton
I have been reading the book "Punctuation: A Primer Information About Marks of Punctuation..." recently, with particular attention to the section on commas. It all makes sense apart from two of the rules that author Frederick Hamilton lists.
Here is the first one that I was unclear on the meaning of:
"5. Before a conjunction when the word which preceded it is qualified by an expression which does not qualify the word which follows the conjunction:
'He quickly looked up and spoke.' "
Does this mean that since the adverb "quickly" does not modify "spoke," there needs to be a comma separating the two?
Here is the other one that confused me...
"8. To separate the co-ordinate clauses of compound sentences if such clauses are simple in construction and closely related:
'He was kind, not indulgent, to his men; firm, but just, in discipline; courteous, but not familiar, to all.' "
In this one, I don't see what he means. All I see are three independent clauses, each with interrupters containing extra information, separated by semicolons. I don't see how his above rule applies to the example at all.
Here is the first one that I was unclear on the meaning of:
"5. Before a conjunction when the word which preceded it is qualified by an expression which does not qualify the word which follows the conjunction:
'He quickly looked up and spoke.' "
Does this mean that since the adverb "quickly" does not modify "spoke," there needs to be a comma separating the two?
Here is the other one that confused me...
"8. To separate the co-ordinate clauses of compound sentences if such clauses are simple in construction and closely related:
'He was kind, not indulgent, to his men; firm, but just, in discipline; courteous, but not familiar, to all.' "
In this one, I don't see what he means. All I see are three independent clauses, each with interrupters containing extra information, separated by semicolons. I don't see how his above rule applies to the example at all.
Top answer
It seems that these rules must follow on from an instruction like "You should use a comma:", or "A comma can optionally be used:", or some other introductory wording that provides the extra context needed for them to be meaningful. What is that wording?
- It seems that these rules must follow on from an instruction like "You should use a comma:", or "A comma can optionally be used:", or some other introductory wording that provides the extra context needed for them to be meaningful.
- What is that wording?
Get the Weekly English Kit 📬
New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.
6 Answers
0
It seems that these rules must follow on from an instruction like "You should use a comma:", or "A comma can optionally be used:", or some other introductory wording that provides the extra context needed for them to be meaningful. What is that wording?
00
Sorry, I forgot to specify that.
The list is under the sub-heading: Rules for the Use of a Comma.
The list is under the sub-heading: Rules for the Use of a Comma.
00
JJDouglasThe list is under the sub-heading: Rules for the Use of a Comma.Isn't there anything more specific? I mean, potentially "Rules for the Use of a Comma" could explain when you should use a comma, when you shouldn't use a comma, when you might optionally use a comma, etc. Does it seem clear in the book that the numbered points are supposed to explain wh
00
Sorry, that's completely my fault.
Number 5 should have been:
"He quickly looked up, and spoke."
I don't know how I overlooked that, and I don't think the website is going to let me edit the original post.
Number 5 should have been:
"He quickly looked up, and spoke."
I don't know how I overlooked that, and I don't think the website is going to let me edit the original post.
00
JJDouglasSorry, that's completely my fault. Number 5 should have been:"He quickly looked up, and spoke."Aha, I see!
In that case ....
JJDouglasDoes this mean that if the adverb "quickly" does not modify "spoke," there needs to be a comma separating the two?Yes, tha
00
'He was kind, not indulgent, to his men; firm, but just, in discipline; courteous, but not familiar, to all.'
You need commas here; it's interruptions of the flow of speech which have to be separated in the clauses:
The flow of the "He was kind to his men" is somehow interrupted by "not indulgent" hence commas before and after it. The same refers to "but just" and "but not
You need commas here; it's interruptions of the flow of speech which have to be separated in the clauses:
The flow of the "He was kind to his men" is somehow interrupted by "not indulgent" hence commas before and after it. The same refers to "but just" and "but not
0
Related Questions