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Youssefdir Posted 12 years ago
Grammar

"," with "and" coordinating 2 expressions?

I know that we don't use a comma when coordinating 2 words, but we use it in 3 words, e.g. I ate an apple and an orange. Then I ate a banana, an apple, and an orange.
The question is: "with 2 verbal expressions (not words) won't it be better to put a comma?" e.g. "I feel that when I read a good amount of the latest articles of "Graph Data Analysis", and by using mathematical common sense in graph parameters, I can do the job!"
Here I've put 2 commas. Those 2 commas seem to me necessary to let the reader understand and to give him a break.
Don't you agree?
  

Top answer

" With long expressions, you may be tempted, but the rule is not to do so. Your sentence, however, has a worse problem, as it is too far from parallel. Fixing that improves the readability without wasting commas: I feel that by reading a good number of the latest articles in "Graph Data Analysi s" and by using mathematical common sense in graph paramete rs I can do the job!

— Mister Micawber

  • " With long expressions, you may be tempted, but the rule is not to do so.
  • Your sentence, however, has a worse problem, as it is too far from parallel.
  • Fixing that improves the readability without wasting commas: I feel that by reading a good number of the latest articles in "Graph Data Analysi s" and by using mathematical common sense in graph paramete rs I can do the job!
  • If that still does not mollify you, I can recast and refine: I feel I can do the job by reading t he latest articles in "Graph Data Analysis" a nd using mathematical common sense in graph parameters.
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2 Answers
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youssefdirThe question is: "with 2 verbal expressions (not words) won't it be better to put a comma?"
With long expressions, you may be tempted, but the rule is not to do so. Your sentence, however, has a worse problem, as it is too far from parallel. Fixing that improves the readability without wasting commas:

I feel that by reading
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