1. WritingNoob

    WritingNoob New Member

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    When to use 'commas' or ','?

    Discussion in 'Word Mechanics' started by WritingNoob, Feb 7, 2010.

    hey guys, i was just wondering when the best time is to use commas. i remember being taught that they're supposed to be used to give pause to a sentence. when writing, we're supposed to be reading sentences out loud, right?

    are there any hard and fast rules?

    thanks
     
  2. Cogito

    Cogito Former Mod, Retired Supporter Contributor

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    There are a number of rules for comma usage. You should purchase a general writer's handbook. Strunk and White's The Elements of Style is a must have for any writer, and The Little, Brown Handbook organizes punctuation and grammar topics together for easy reference.
     
  3. mammamaia

    mammamaia nit-picker-in-chief Contributor

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    every writer should have a good punctuation guide handy, in addition to a strunk & white, 'cause all-purpose style guides just don't get into all the details of proper punctuation...
     
  4. JTheGreat

    JTheGreat New Member

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    Commas, commas, commas....

    Commas are used to seperate things in a list, to end a partial quotation, and to seperate phrases and clauses. They are also used to represent pauses in speech, but too long of a pause requires ellipses (...).
     
  5. mammamaia

    mammamaia nit-picker-in-chief Contributor

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    huh?
     
  6. Humour Whiffet

    Humour Whiffet Banned

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    I’m guessing he must mean the first comma in the following: “I’m of the view,” said Tom, “that the change in policy a bad thing.”

    I'm only guessing though!
     
  7. mammamaia

    mammamaia nit-picker-in-chief Contributor

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    could be, i guess...
     

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