Comma Quandary
I, either, have, too, many or not enough so I can't win.27 total reviews
Comment from robyn corum
Liz,
I think it's awesome if you've found someone who is so willing to help and work with you. The rules on commas have changed so much in the last thirty years or so - it's crazy. Yes, no, and who do you believe anymore? When you have all the rules down pat you can come back and do lessons. *smile* Thanks!
reply by the author on 05-Nov-2021
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Liz,
I think it's awesome if you've found someone who is so willing to help and work with you. The rules on commas have changed so much in the last thirty years or so - it's crazy. Yes, no, and who do you believe anymore? When you have all the rules down pat you can come back and do lessons. *smile* Thanks!
Comment Written 25-Oct-2021
reply by the author on 05-Nov-2021
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Check out Wendy G's review--I'd have done exactly as she did, per common sense as to natural speech. But my editor goes by THE RULES. I fear I've wrongly "corrected" errors in my reviews.
I assume you realize that the subtitle's 4 extra commas a(nd missing commas in the second part) was intended ironically.
Comment from karenina
Hello, my name is Karenina and I'm a "Comma-holic."
I do seriously need some sort of ten step meeting. Either I insert said punctuation whenever I feel I'd take a "breath"--or I omit them altogether and cop out with unorthodox dashes and the like. (In my defense it SO worked for Emily Dickinson!)
This one just hit home! I've googled, I've tossed my writing attempts into the WORD grammar and punctuation check, I've sought advice from fellow writers-- EACH had their own thoughts (Yes! It's perfect keep that comma there! OR "No, because you have a dangling participle and you veered into pluperfect tense you ought not clutter this debacle with any punctuation at all--just discard!"
Okay--Maybe not that bad. (But it should be!)
A knowing editor would help me a bunch. Help me quit writing and wonder why I skipped all those English classes in Junior High!)
Sigh.......
Karenina
reply by the author on 05-Nov-2021
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Hello, my name is Karenina and I'm a "Comma-holic."
I do seriously need some sort of ten step meeting. Either I insert said punctuation whenever I feel I'd take a "breath"--or I omit them altogether and cop out with unorthodox dashes and the like. (In my defense it SO worked for Emily Dickinson!)
This one just hit home! I've googled, I've tossed my writing attempts into the WORD grammar and punctuation check, I've sought advice from fellow writers-- EACH had their own thoughts (Yes! It's perfect keep that comma there! OR "No, because you have a dangling participle and you veered into pluperfect tense you ought not clutter this debacle with any punctuation at all--just discard!"
Okay--Maybe not that bad. (But it should be!)
A knowing editor would help me a bunch. Help me quit writing and wonder why I skipped all those English classes in Junior High!)
Sigh.......
Karenina
Comment Written 25-Oct-2021
reply by the author on 05-Nov-2021
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Witty and thought-provoking, as per your trademark.
Check out Wendy G's review--I'd have done exactly as she did, per common sense as to natural speech. But my editor goes by THE RULES. I fear I've wrongly "corrected" errors in my reviews.
I assume you realize that the subtitle's 4 extra commas a(nd missing commas in the second part) was intended ironically.
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Irony is my middle name!
I did read Wendy's review!
I agree!
K
Comment from Judy Lawless
The rules are always controversial, so my rule of thumb is to read it the way you would speak it. If you would pause before or after something put in the comma. And then you are at the mercy of your editor because they all have different ideas. lol.
reply by the author on 05-Nov-2021
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The rules are always controversial, so my rule of thumb is to read it the way you would speak it. If you would pause before or after something put in the comma. And then you are at the mercy of your editor because they all have different ideas. lol.
Comment Written 25-Oct-2021
reply by the author on 05-Nov-2021
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Check out Wendy G's review--I'd have done exactly as she did, per common sense as to natural speech. But my editor goes by THE RULES. I fear I've wrongly "corrected" errors in my reviews.
I assume you realize that the subtitle's 4 extra commas a(nd missing commas in the second part) was intended ironically.
Comment from BethShelby
I really thought you were an expert on commas. I took your word for it when you were always telling me to omit commas. I would have put comma were she did and you might have said omit them. I think the rules have changed since I took English.
reply by the author on 05-Nov-2021
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I really thought you were an expert on commas. I took your word for it when you were always telling me to omit commas. I would have put comma were she did and you might have said omit them. I think the rules have changed since I took English.
Comment Written 25-Oct-2021
reply by the author on 05-Nov-2021
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Check out Wendy G's review--I'd have done exactly as she did, per common sense as to natural speech. But my editor goes by THE RULES. I fear I've wrongly "corrected" errors in my reviews.
I assume you realize that the subtitle's 4 extra commas a(nd missing commas in the second part) was intended ironically.
I reiterate my apology for having likely steered you wrong on occasion!
Comment from Begin Again
I use Grammarly and Prowriting-Aid and often they can not agree either so I guess all we can do is...write it like we see it and hope we come close to getting it right. It's just a little hiccup so don't sweat it!
Hugs, Carol
reply by the author on 05-Nov-2021
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I use Grammarly and Prowriting-Aid and often they can not agree either so I guess all we can do is...write it like we see it and hope we come close to getting it right. It's just a little hiccup so don't sweat it!
Hugs, Carol
Comment Written 25-Oct-2021
reply by the author on 05-Nov-2021
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Check out Wendy G's review--I'd have done exactly as she did, per common sense as to natural speech. But my editor goes by THE RULES. I fear I've wrongly "corrected" errors in my reviews.
I assume you realize that the subtitle's 4 extra commas a(nd missing commas in the second part) was intended ironically.
She'll never change, alas. Her Bible was written by her esteemed teacher back when.
One construction she "corrects" drives me crazy. Every source says not to do this--if for no other reason that it looks so odd--, so if you see me write a sentence like this one with the preceding superfluous comma after the long dash, you'll know she made me do it. Her rationale is that if you take out the offset phrase, you'd need the comma.
I was amused to see indigovega's response to the preceding:
Ouch, that comma after the long dash is like putting salt in ice cream :-) :-) :-)
Comment from T B Botts
Hey Liz,
Should I use a comma after your name or a - ? I'm sure that there are a number of people who could tell me, but it doesn't mean that they would all agree. I just put commas where I think they should be, I write like I talk. Actually, that's a lie. I write better than I talk because I have time to think about what I'm saying. In any event, sounds like the Comma Queen is bowing out, perhaps in frustration. Oh well.
Blessings
Tom
reply by the author on 25-Oct-2021
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Hey Liz,
Should I use a comma after your name or a - ? I'm sure that there are a number of people who could tell me, but it doesn't mean that they would all agree. I just put commas where I think they should be, I write like I talk. Actually, that's a lie. I write better than I talk because I have time to think about what I'm saying. In any event, sounds like the Comma Queen is bowing out, perhaps in frustration. Oh well.
Blessings
Tom
Comment Written 24-Oct-2021
reply by the author on 25-Oct-2021
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Check out Wendy G's review--I'd have done exactly as she did, per common sense as to natural speech. But my editor goes by THE RULES. I fear I've wrongly "corrected" errors in my reviews.
I assume you realize that the subtitle's 4 extra commas a(nd missing commas in the second part) was intended ironically.
-
She'll never change, alas. Her Bible was written by her esteemed teacher back when.
One construction she "corrects" drives me crazy. Every source says not to do this--if for no other reason that it looks so odd--, so if you see me write a sentence like this one with the preceding superfluous comma after the long dash, you'll know she made me do it. Her rationale is that if you take out the offset phrase, you'd need the comma.
I was amused to see indigovega's response to the preceding:
Ouch, that comma after the long dash is like putting salt in ice cream :-) :-) :-)
Comment from Father Flaps
Hi Liz,
Don't sweat the small stuff. Just remember, commas are like yield signs. Whenever your sentence takes a sidewise shift, throw one in there. You're only yielding to the regular structure of the sentence. Proof read it afterwards, and you'll find it's right most of the time. A good synonym for "comma" is "interruption".
Hugs,
Kimbob
reply by the author on 25-Oct-2021
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Hi Liz,
Don't sweat the small stuff. Just remember, commas are like yield signs. Whenever your sentence takes a sidewise shift, throw one in there. You're only yielding to the regular structure of the sentence. Proof read it afterwards, and you'll find it's right most of the time. A good synonym for "comma" is "interruption".
Hugs,
Kimbob
Comment Written 24-Oct-2021
reply by the author on 25-Oct-2021
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Check out Wendy G's review--I'd have done exactly as she did, per common sense as to natural speech. But my editor goes by THE RULES. I fear I've wrongly "corrected" errors in my reviews.
I assume you realize that the subtitle's 4 extra commas a(nd missing commas in the second part) was intended ironically.
Comment from Robert Zimmerman
Liz.
I am married to my comma editor. I also have a digital comma editor. I've the Oxford comma figured out. I let those two go at it on the rest of my commas.
She retired after teaching 30 years, but she was the school's in house grammar editor for all publications. She works cheap if I prepare the chicken well for dinner.
Robert
reply by the author on 25-Oct-2021
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Liz.
I am married to my comma editor. I also have a digital comma editor. I've the Oxford comma figured out. I let those two go at it on the rest of my commas.
She retired after teaching 30 years, but she was the school's in house grammar editor for all publications. She works cheap if I prepare the chicken well for dinner.
Robert
Comment Written 24-Oct-2021
reply by the author on 25-Oct-2021
-
Check out Wendy G's review--I'd have done exactly as she did, per common sense as to natural speech. But my editor goes by THE RULES. I fear I've wrongly "corrected" errors in my reviews.
I assume you realize that the subtitle's 4 extra commas a(nd missing commas in the second part) was intended ironically.
Comment from barbara.wilkey
I do understand. I know the normal comma rules, but I swear each editor makes up their own!!!!!!!! Also, I believe some editors' logic, 'when in doubt leave it out'. Thank you for sharing.
reply by the author on 25-Oct-2021
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I do understand. I know the normal comma rules, but I swear each editor makes up their own!!!!!!!! Also, I believe some editors' logic, 'when in doubt leave it out'. Thank you for sharing.
Comment Written 24-Oct-2021
reply by the author on 25-Oct-2021
-
Check out Wendy G's review--I'd have done exactly as she did, per common sense as to natural speech. But my editor goes by THE RULES. I fear I've wrongly "corrected" errors in my reviews.
I assume you realize that the subtitle's 4 extra commas (and missing commas in the second part) was intended ironically.
Comment from Henry White II
This is clever and well written. I understand the frustrations of working with an editor. But they are helpful and we need them. I really like the levity is using [comma!] and [no comma!]. Sounded like the editor could have been a little frustrated as well. Playful story. I enjoyed the read.
reply by the author on 25-Oct-2021
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This is clever and well written. I understand the frustrations of working with an editor. But they are helpful and we need them. I really like the levity is using [comma!] and [no comma!]. Sounded like the editor could have been a little frustrated as well. Playful story. I enjoyed the read.
Comment Written 24-Oct-2021
reply by the author on 25-Oct-2021
Thanks for stopping by, Henry. (I don't like the rule that I have to put a comma before your name!)
Check out Wendy G's review--I'd have done exactly as she did, per common sense as to natural speech. But my editor goes by THE RULES. I fear I've wrongly "corrected" errors in my reviews.
I assume you realize that the subtitle's 4 extra commas (and missing commas in the second part) was intended ironically.