Larry Trask seems to be violating rules concerning commas as mentioned in his own guide How to Get Things Done.
How can someone use a comma? His node11. “Who has all these aforementioned nodes on the underlying network?” html mentions that we shouldn’t use a joining comma before any word other than and or, but, while and yet. In particular for that example, how will a join comma and a joining comma look before another joined comma?
In node13, I’m at least 11 and to be honest has node13. Is it wrong? html, he seems to be making some dubious uses of comma violating the rules he has mentioned in his guide. If bracketing
commas don’t exist, why? ”
The comma used in that sentence is not a list comma. It is not followed by and, or, but while or yet. Isn’t this a gapping comma? What is the use of comma?
Trask suggests that we fix such punctuation using semicolons. To get more lucidity, use only the terms “and”, “but”, “while” and “still” below a comma on a paragraph before two other words? If you need to use semicolon, and you want only one symbol, I will use it. Why in the next example won’t he do so? Why not?
“This is a good sentence, so you have now got bracketing commas in the correct places. What
are the most important things that all people should remember when they are doing it?
When Jon’s dead, what would have been a good reason to ask him? In each of the sentences you quote, the comma is a bracketing comma, used, as he writes, to mark off a weak interruption of the sentence — that is, an interruption which does not disturb the smooth flow of the sentence. He ends saying ‘the weak interruption set off by bracketing commas could, in principle, be removed from the sentence, and the result would still be a complete sentence that made good sense.’ What do you guys mean by quote? You have to use one simple bracketing comma to describe a page that doesn’t always have two commas, but that means that these sentences don’t need to be repeated. ”
‘
“So, bracketing commas should not be there.” What
is bound commas between sentences? The full rule he writes is that:
The joining comma is only slightly different from the listing comma. What if we use a linking word to join two sentences into a single sentence? What is being used in this way is, and or…, while and yet.
In the first example, there aren’t two complete sentences, so he’s not violating any rule. Would the framing comma should not be used on sandwiches like the one I ate at lunch?
“This is a good sentence, so you have now come up with the bracketing commas in the right places. How
do you think you’re conflating the Rules again by assuming this is wrong? How can a joining comma be used after the words you spoke about? This is a bracketing comma –note that you couldn’t really say “so you have now got the bracketing commas in the right place” without ruffling a few grammatical feathers. If a weak interruption
does not absolutely require bracketing commas, let me draw you an example. Shortly before the war, I was living
in Paris. I have much to learn from that, both of whom in fact are, very reasonable in this regard.
Shortly before the war there was nowhere to go. There he was living in Paris.
My boyfriend alleges that both statements are correct. When a sentence you quote has a weak interruption, it is still a valid use of a comma.
I have a book written about grammar and punctuation that says that comments punctuation, apart from some specific rules like apostrophe use, can be considered as a personal style to add flavour to writing. If I had to write a sentence, I would probably go for “This is a good sentence, you now have bracketing commas in the right places.” At least it reflects the statement accurately. That is the best message in English.
William Shakespeare has been said to have been far from consistent in his use of English; yet, allied to fine plots, found worldwide fame for his
oeuvre.
