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Usenet Posted 22 years ago
Usage
Quick comma question
Hi,
I just wrote to a friend and was curious about one of the sentences that I wrote. I am not interested in rewriting the sentence. The e-mail has already been sent. Instead, I am interested in improving my understanding of grammar.
I will present the original version along with my rationale. And then I will present a modified version. Please tell me which is better and why. If it is strictly a matter of style as to which is chosen, please let me know that too.
In the following sentence, is it okay to have the comma after the world "fold"?
*Original*
As long as the building can be used for other purposes, the risk to the city is mitigated because should the company fold, the city can sell or lease the building to another third party.
That is the way I would say it. I would pause after "purposes," and not pause again until after the word "fold."
My thought process is that the "because clause" is necessary to the sentence, and thus it is NOT set off with a comma. However, the "because clause" contains a subordinate clause "should...fold", so I have put a comma at the end of fold.
Perhaps another way of writing this would be...
*Modified*
As long as the building can be used for other purposes, the risk to the city is mitigated because, should the company fold, the city can sell or lease the building to another third party.
This doesn't sound as natural to me.
Thank you very much for taking the effort to respond.
HS
I just wrote to a friend and was curious about one of the sentences that I wrote. I am not interested in rewriting the sentence. The e-mail has already been sent. Instead, I am interested in improving my understanding of grammar.
I will present the original version along with my rationale. And then I will present a modified version. Please tell me which is better and why. If it is strictly a matter of style as to which is chosen, please let me know that too.
In the following sentence, is it okay to have the comma after the world "fold"?
*Original*
As long as the building can be used for other purposes, the risk to the city is mitigated because should the company fold, the city can sell or lease the building to another third party.
That is the way I would say it. I would pause after "purposes," and not pause again until after the word "fold."
My thought process is that the "because clause" is necessary to the sentence, and thus it is NOT set off with a comma. However, the "because clause" contains a subordinate clause "should...fold", so I have put a comma at the end of fold.
Perhaps another way of writing this would be...
*Modified*
As long as the building can be used for other purposes, the risk to the city is mitigated because, should the company fold, the city can sell or lease the building to another third party.
This doesn't sound as natural to me.
Thank you very much for taking the effort to respond.
HS
Top answer
[nq:1]I just wrote to a friend and was curious about one of the sentences that I wrote. I am not ... fold, the city can sell or lease the building to another third party.
- [nq:1]I just wrote to a friend and was curious about one of the sentences that I wrote.
- I am not ...
- fold, the city can sell or lease the building to another third party.
- [/nq] Grammatically, the modified version is the better one because you have a clause within a subsidiary clause.
- In British English a "because" clause following a main clause does not have a comma, I think in American English it does - but I leave this for others to agree or disagree.
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4 Answers
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[nq:1]I just wrote to a friend and was curious about one of the sentences that I wrote. I am not ... fold, the city can sell or lease the building to another third party. This doesn't sound as natural to me.[/nq]
Grammatically, the modified version is the better one because you have a clause within a subsidiary clause. In British English a "because" clause following a main clause does not have
Grammatically, the modified version is the better one because you have a clause within a subsidiary clause. In British English a "because" clause following a main clause does not have
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Harry Sampson asks about:
[nq:1]As long as the building can be used for other purposes, the risk to the city is mitigated because should the company fold, the city can sell or lease the building to another third party.[/nq]
vs.:
[nq:1]As long as the building can be used for other purposes, the risk to the city is mitigated because, should the company fold, the city can sell or lease th
[nq:1]As long as the building can be used for other purposes, the risk to the city is mitigated because should the company fold, the city can sell or lease the building to another third party.[/nq]
vs.:
[nq:1]As long as the building can be used for other purposes, the risk to the city is mitigated because, should the company fold, the city can sell or lease th
00
[nq:1]Grammatically, the modified version is the better one because you have a clause within a subsidiary clause. In British English ... or disagree. However, your subsidiary clause is "because the city.."; the "should" clause is an extra and therefore needs commas.[/nq]
Datsy,
Thank you for your help.
HS
Datsy,
Thank you for your help.
HS
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[nq:1]Harry Sampson asks about:[/nq]
Mark,
Thank you very much for your help.
HS
Mark,
Thank you very much for your help.
HS
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