Why no full stop but a comma?

Question

Many people face a major privacy chaallenge with respect to information they post about themselves, let alone what other people post about them or what third parties collect about them.

Q) It looks like a full stop is better than a comma there. What do you think?

I don't know how a comma can come and why the writer put a comma instead of full stop.

Canadian45 · Accepted Answer

moon7296Many people face a major privacy challenge with respect to information they post about themselves, let alone what other people post about them or what third parties collect about them.
Q) It looks like a full stop is better than a comma there. What do you think? I don't know how a comma can come and why the writer put a comma instead of full stop.
If you put a period there, you would have two separate sentences. Would that be correct English?

Moon7296 · Answer

It looks like there's no relationship between two clauses(before and after the comma). So I think a full stop can come. What do you think?

So your point is..?? by using a comma there, one sentence becomes two separate sentences? Is that all?

Canadian45 · Answer

moon7296It looks like there's no relationship between two the clauses(before and after the comma). That's not true.
But the main point is that the part after the comma cannot stand as a separate sentence.

[/ quote]

Are you familiar with the meaning and use of "let alone"?

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/let%20alone

Moon7296 · Answer

Thank you again for your reply.

It's quite complicate to understand. Yeah,, I didn't know the meaning and use of let alone.(and still hard to understand..)

One more thing:

Could you please explain "But the main point is that the part after the comma cannot stand as a separate sentence."?

Canadian45 · Answer

moon7296 One more thing: Could you please explain "But the main point is that the part after the comma cannot stand as a separate sentence."?
"let alone" does not start a new sentence; it follows something coming before it in a sentence. So it has to be one sentence separated by a comma, not two separate sentences.

Clive · Answer

Hi,

Many people face a major privacy chaallenge with respect to information they post about themselves, let alone what other people post about them or what third parties collect about them.

Q) It looks like a full stop is better than a comma there. What do you think?

I don't know how a comma can come and why the writer put a comma instead of full stop.

I would explain it this way.

'let alone . . . ' is used to add a quick after-thought that supplies some emphasis to what has just been said.The link in meaning between what has just been said and the afterthought is so close that a comma is ideal. You might also use parentheses.

The grammar of the phrase tends to be pretty loose.This means it would look odd as a stand-alone sentence.

eg I haven't opened my text-book, let alone read it.

eg Tom has never stolen a pencil, let alone a car.

eg He isn't irritated (let alone angry).

Finally, note that this phrase is rather casual.

Clive

Moon7296 · Answer

Thank you very much!

I had never imagined there would be this secret in the phrase

I have a minor question here-.-;

Sometimes, my questions are not answered, then there's no way to be answered? or should I upload them again to be noticed at the top?

Clive · Answer

Hi,

Please don't post the same question twice.

You can bring your question back to the top if you just post again to the same thread, eg by saying 'Please answer'. But don't do this often, as it clutters up the Forum. Instead, see if you can think why no-one has answered, because people have undoubtedly read it and have decded not to answer.

Is your question unclear?

Is it too long?

Is it it too vague or too general?

Are you asking someone to give you an answer that would require a lot of work?

Clive.

Why no full stop but a comma?

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