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Is the comma heading for a full stop?
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Sentence structure would have to change if commas were scrapped. They can often be crucial for changing the meaning of a sentence. In my humblest of opinions, it's another example of people being lazy and unable to use proper grammar.
Commas are here to stay. Period. :-)Although they used to be used much more liberally. I've developed a very minimalist approach to comma use in my own writing.
There are lots of books around in which people apply them as if they're using a salt shaker. You don't need a comma every time you think a reader will breathe in! However, there are places where a missing comma can change the sense of the sentence and make it mean something totally different. They are needed but they're used far more often than they are needed.
Oh lord, can you imagine PG Wodehouse without commas?"Jeeves in speaking of this Fink-Nottle had if you remember described him as disgruntled and it was plain at a glance that the passage of time had done nothing to gruntle him."
It's taken me over twenty years to shake off the Oxford comma; the prof can't expect me to rid myself of the curly full stop altogether, surely?
I put down a book after just 2 pages 'cos I had comma fatigue. Way, way, way too many. I may not know all the technical rules for their use but I am totally in favour of them.Should there be one before the but?
No because but is a conjunction.Or is that an inflamation of the eye? ;)
I'd fight for the continued existence of the comma!"Aye, fight and you may die. Run and you’ll live — at least a while. And, dying in your beds many years from now, would you be willing to trade all the days from this day to that for one chance, just one chance, to come back here and tell our enemies that they may take our lives, but they’ll never take our commas!?!"
I know it as a serial comma. We were taught to use it in school. Then wer were told not to.
Removing appropriately placed commas would be like removing road signs, leading to utter confusion!
David wrote: "Removing appropriately placed commas would be like removing road signs, leading to utter confusion!"http://www.lifedownloaded.com/blog/wp...
...comma comma comma comma comma chameleon...
While I agree with all the comments about the importance of the comma. I think the good professor was thinking about the readers of the future. In 20-30 years many readers will be guided by text & email English, which frowns on punctuation.
He seems concerned that reading of traditional writing with punctuation will decline in the future because texters will get confused.
I don't think they will get confused but cue title for future eBook -'How to Read Books Containing Curly Things and Other Non-words' :)
David wrote: "...comma comma comma comma comma chameleon..."Someone had to. Not surprised it was a David.
Patti (baconater) wrote: "David wrote: "...comma comma comma comma comma chameleon..."Someone had to. Not surprised it was a David."
Boy David!
Andy wrote: "David wrote: "Removing appropriately placed commas would be like removing road signs, leading to utter confusion!"http://www.lifedownloaded.com/blog/wp......"
Have a look on how to design signs.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publica... (Chapter 7)
Then there are the extra rules for Welsh signs !!!!!
Joo The Grand Inquisitor wrote: "Have a look on how to design signs.https://www.gov.uk/government/publica... (Chapter 7)
Then there are the extra rules for Welsh signs !!!!!
..."
Are there York notes available?
No, no, no. No, no and no.Go commas!
Fact of the day: comma, spelt backwards, is Russian for carrot. :)
I thought it was one of those funny beds they had in sailing ships?
Gordon wrote: "While I agree with all the comments about the importance of the comma. I think the good professor was thinking about the readers of the future. In 20-30 years many readers will be guided by text ..."
N tht cse mst vwls'll prbly b xtnct 2.
Chapter 7 of the Traffic Signs Manual! By 'eck that takes me back.
Darren wrote: "Chapter 7 of the Traffic Signs Manual! By 'eck that takes me back."Is Darren sad for being excited by it?
Oh yes. Sad sad sad.
Francis wrote: "I thought it was one of those funny beds they had in sailing ships?"Carrot...hammock...easy to confuse the two!
R.M.F wrote: "Fact of the day: comma, spelt backwards, is Russian for carrot. :)"I'm now in the midst of verifying that with a Russian friend. ;)
Patti (baconater) wrote: "R.M.F wrote: "Fact of the day: comma, spelt backwards, is Russian for carrot. :)"I'm now in the midst of verifying that with a Russian friend. ;)"
It was a lie, a dirty great lie! :) It's amazing how many people believe me! I was watching Alan Partridge earlier, hence the inspiration.
For sale: one bridge.
So I looked at the first two chapters of my novel 'Deadly Secrets' and took out all the commas. That caused confusion because I had employed commas but I did realise that I could have written sentences differently to greatly reduce comma usage.