Commas, commas, commas
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- Samuel Windybank
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Commas, commas, commas
Two mistakes I agree with and that’s fine. There are two that I don’t.
1. Will Peter overcome his own, personal demons?
2. However, the, sometimes, colourful language...
The first lists two characteristics of the ‘demons’ so they should be separated by a comma. Correct?
For the second, the editor has said the comma after ‘the’ is unnecessary. However, sometimes is an interjection and so should have a comma before and after. Correct?
This is what I was taught at university and is what I’ve always done. I’ve never been told either are incorrect.
What are your thoughts?
- MrsCatInTheHat
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There should not be a comma after "the" in sentence 2.
If you decide to request a recheck, make sure you include support for your reasoning. This would typically be a website that has the necessary information.
- Samuel Windybank
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Why is this the case? Can you tell me why, or can you recommend some reading material I can look up and learn from?CatInTheHat wrote: ↑23 Jun 2020, 07:09 There should not be a comma in sentence 1.
There should not be a comma after "the" in sentence 2.
If you decide to request a recheck, make sure you include support for your reasoning. This would typically be a website that has the necessary information.
thanks
- inaramid
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1. "Own" here is used as an adjective that works as a unit with another adjective ("personal"). Don't place a comma between cumulative adjectives such as these.
INCORRECT: I was almost completely in my own, little world.
CORRECT: I was almost completely in my own little world.
**Example from the Oxford Learners' Dictionary
INCORRECT: Will Peter overcome his own, personal demons?
CORRECT: Will Peter overcome his own personal demons?
2. "Sometimes" is an adverb that can modify an adjective, verb, or adverb. Don't enclose the word with commas.
INCORRECT: The, sometimes, happy thing about a poor economy and death...
CORRECT: The sometimes happy thing about a poor economy and death...
**Example from the web
INCORRECT: However, the, sometimes, colourful language...
CORRECT: However, the sometimes colourful language...
There are words called conjunctive adverbs (however, moreover, therefore, etc.) that are enclosed by commas when used in the middle of sentences:
His statements, therefore, are only made...
She said, however, that she is not...
"Sometimes" is not one of them.
AWKWARD: The author, sometimes, writes in...
OKAY: The author sometimes writes in...
- Samuel Windybank
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Thanks for this! It’s the exact clarification I was after! Cheersinaramid wrote: ↑07 Jul 2020, 22:48 Agree with CatInTheHat. This response is a bit late, but here's how I see it:
1. "Own" here is used as an adjective that works as a unit with another adjective ("personal"). Don't place a comma between cumulative adjectives such as these.
INCORRECT: I was almost completely in my own, little world.
CORRECT: I was almost completely in my own little world.
**Example from the Oxford Learners' Dictionary
INCORRECT: Will Peter overcome his own, personal demons?
CORRECT: Will Peter overcome his own personal demons?
2. "Sometimes" is an adverb that can modify an adjective, verb, or adverb. Don't enclose the word with commas.
INCORRECT: The, sometimes, happy thing about a poor economy and death...
CORRECT: The sometimes happy thing about a poor economy and death...
**Example from the web
INCORRECT: However, the, sometimes, colourful language...
CORRECT: However, the sometimes colourful language...
There are words called conjunctive adverbs (however, moreover, therefore, etc.) that are enclosed by commas when used in the middle of sentences:
His statements, therefore, are only made...
She said, however, that she is not...
"Sometimes" is not one of them.
AWKWARD: The author, sometimes, writes in...
OKAY: The author sometimes writes in...