0
Listenever Posted 11 years ago
Grammar

To put a comma before "or" or not to

In this YouTube video of an animation movie, the girl says at 7 seconds: "That's not evil, or a talent."

Most quotes that I found on the Web include the comma before "or".

Why would you need a comma there?

Is it even proper punctuation to put a comma there?

  

Top answer

listenever Why would you need a comma there? To indicate a pause in the speech. listenever Is it even proper punctuation to put a comma there?

— Mister Micawber

  • listenever Why would you need a comma there?
  • To indicate a pause in the speech.
  • listenever Is it even proper punctuation to put a comma there?
  • In a transcript, it is fine.
Free · every Monday

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.

5 Answers
0
listeneverWhy would you need a comma there?
To indicate a pause in the speech.
listeneverIs it even proper punctuation to put a comma there?
In a transcript, it is fine.
0
0
Mister MicawberTo indicate a pause in the speech.
Thank you.

But do you think that there's a pause?
Because I really can't hear little pause there, if any.

Do you perhaps mean stressing "or" by a pause?
While I don't hear a pause, I certainly can hear "or" being stressed.

If that's what you mean, can you put a comma before "o
0
0
I had not listened, actually. Now I have. Using the comma for an emphatic word is not common practice, though the emphasis does seem rather like a pause there. In any case, it is the transcriber's decision. There are few real rules for commas, and the choice is often, as here, unimportant.
0
0
Thank you. So, it's also possible to do without the comma here, right?
0
0
listenever So, it's also possible to do without the comma here, right?
Oh, yes—no problem!
0

Related Questions