#1  
Old 07-19-2004, 12:15 PM
Petra's Avatar
Petra Petra is offline
Love Bomb
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: NZ (Aotearoa)
Posts: VMMMCCXXXIX
Images: 215
Question Mark Commas

I am, a hopeless, overuser, of the comm,a. Although, I'm sure, none of you, have ever, noticed. ;)

So I'd like to ask a couple of questions. When and where should one use a comma in a sentence? What are the general rules of thumb here? How can one avoid COS (Comma Overuse Syndrome)?

HELP!
__________________
“Passion makes the world go round. Love just makes it a safer place.”

~ Ice T ~
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 07-19-2004, 12:59 PM
Dingfod's Avatar
Dingfod Dingfod is offline
A fellow sophisticate
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Cowtown, Kansas
Gender: Male
Blog Entries: 21
Images: 92
Default Re: Commas

In my one-day business communications class that I took about 13 or 14 years ago, the instructor said to use punctuation to make your communication flow like conversational speech. Like, you know, every day talk, 'n' stuff. It made sense to me. It's better than not using them at all.

Now. Let's. Talk. About. Periods. O.K.?


Warren, probably a comma abuser
__________________
Sleep - the most beautiful experience in life - except drink.--W.C. Fields
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 07-19-2004, 01:05 PM
Petra's Avatar
Petra Petra is offline
Love Bomb
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: NZ (Aotearoa)
Posts: VMMMCCXXXIX
Images: 215
Default Re: Commas

Quote:
Originally Posted by warrenly
Now. Let's. Talk. About. Periods. O.K.?

No. Fuck off. Mine's due, and you're in trouble for reminding me.

Btw, they're called "full stops" :P
__________________
“Passion makes the world go round. Love just makes it a safer place.”

~ Ice T ~
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 07-19-2004, 01:16 PM
Dingfod's Avatar
Dingfod Dingfod is offline
A fellow sophisticate
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Cowtown, Kansas
Gender: Male
Blog Entries: 21
Images: 92
Default Re: Commas

Quote:
Originally Posted by lunachick
No. Fuck off.
I guess that's better than "Go Cheney yourself."

Just trying to help.

Minimizing periods.

Again, just trying to help.


Warren
__________________
Sleep - the most beautiful experience in life - except drink.--W.C. Fields
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 07-19-2004, 01:22 PM
Petra's Avatar
Petra Petra is offline
Love Bomb
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: NZ (Aotearoa)
Posts: VMMMCCXXXIX
Images: 215
Comedy Re: Commas

Quote:
Originally Posted by warrenly
I guess that's better than "Go Cheney yourself."

Just trying to help.

Minimizing periods.

Again, just trying to help.


Warren
From your link:
Pelvic Pain Regional Specialty Center

Now that looks like a place in need of some serious commas.


(Did ya like the way I artfully brought that back on topic? ;))
__________________
“Passion makes the world go round. Love just makes it a safer place.”

~ Ice T ~
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 07-19-2004, 01:28 PM
Dingfod's Avatar
Dingfod Dingfod is offline
A fellow sophisticate
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Cowtown, Kansas
Gender: Male
Blog Entries: 21
Images: 92
Default Re: Commas

Quote:
Originally Posted by lunachick
(Did ya like the way I artfully brought that back on topic? ;))
But, you didn't say where you wanted them to put those commas. :D


War,ren.
__________________
Sleep - the most beautiful experience in life - except drink.--W.C. Fields
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 07-19-2004, 01:30 PM
Petra's Avatar
Petra Petra is offline
Love Bomb
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: NZ (Aotearoa)
Posts: VMMMCCXXXIX
Images: 215
Default Re: Commas

Quote:
Originally Posted by warrenly
But, you didn't say where you wanted them to put those commas. :D


War,ren.
Warren, if I knew where to put those, commas I wouldn't have opened, this op silly!
__________________
“Passion makes the world go round. Love just makes it a safer place.”

~ Ice T ~
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 07-19-2004, 03:42 PM
Hugo Holbling Hugo Holbling is offline
Warra warra
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: With Bo, Merryn and Charlie
Posts: CXXV
Default Re: Commas

Quote:
Originally Posted by lunachick
What are the general rules of thumb here?
There is some good advice in these notes, Petra.
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 07-19-2004, 04:19 PM
Godot's Avatar
Godot Godot is offline
Petty Moralist Censor
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Sol III
Posts: LXXXVII
Default Re: Commas

I think that this would be the perfect opportunity to recommend this book. It ain't that often that a book about punctuation becomes a bestseller, but this one earns it. Educational and funny!

(I also find it funny that Hugo's link leads to a place just down the road from me. :D)
__________________
Dig it.
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 07-19-2004, 08:48 PM
livius drusus's Avatar
livius drusus livius drusus is offline
Admin of THIEVES and SLUGABEDS
 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: LVCCCLXXII
Images: 5
Default Re: Commas

I second Godot's recommendation of Eats Shoots & Leaves. Click here for a great NPR interview with author Lynne Truss. She is an intelligent, charming and witty woman, and it shows on every page of the book.

It will answer all your comma concerns and so much more, I'm sure, luna.
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 07-20-2004, 02:04 AM
Adora's Avatar
Adora Adora is offline
Raping the Marlboro Man
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: MMMLXXXVI
Images: 1
Default Re: Commas

I always get fucked using hyphens and semicolons. Freud, y'think?
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 07-20-2004, 02:17 AM
Petra's Avatar
Petra Petra is offline
Love Bomb
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: NZ (Aotearoa)
Posts: VMMMCCXXXIX
Images: 215
Default Re: Commas

Thank you for your replies. :)

Hugo, that link is most useful and has been bookmarked. Thank you.

The book purchase will have to wait as I'm swamped with winter bills right now, but again I've bookmarked it, and when the cost of heating goes down it'll be a definite purchase. Thank you, livius and Godot.

I think I'm getting the hang of it, and should anyone read something with too many unnecessary commas in it, I expect y'all to scold me. Besides, I like being scolded. Spanked, even.

I think I've also figured out where the comma should go in the above example from warrenly's link: Pelvic Pain, Regional Specialty Center. Yep. I think I've got the hang of it. :D
__________________
“Passion makes the world go round. Love just makes it a safer place.”

~ Ice T ~
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 07-22-2004, 12:34 PM
JoeP's Avatar
JoeP JoeP is offline
Solipsist
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Kolmannessa kerroksessa
Gender: Male
Posts: XXXVMMXI
Images: 18
Default Re: Commas

Luna, prise off the comma-key and remove the contact.

For one, I have never noticed you using too many, or misplaced, commas.

I'm amazed and impressed :bow: that we even have conversations like this. There are some boards where mos participants dont care about commas...or any punctuation at all...except these dots...or capitals...dude
__________________

:roadrun:
Free thought! Please take one!

:unitedkingdom:   :southafrica:   :unitedkingdom::finland:   :finland:
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 07-22-2004, 01:15 PM
livius drusus's Avatar
livius drusus livius drusus is offline
Admin of THIEVES and SLUGABEDS
 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: LVCCCLXXII
Images: 5
Stop Re: Commas

Quote:
Originally Posted by JoeP
There are some boards where mos participants dont care about commas...or any punctuation at all...except these dots...or capitals...dude
God, I hate ellipsis abuse. Hate it. I feel like every sentence is written by Shatner ca 1968.
Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old 07-23-2004, 07:40 AM
Albion's Avatar
Albion Albion is offline
Expat Brit
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: XXIV
Default Re: Commas

I agree - "Eats, Shoots and Leaves" is hilarious as well as informative.

However, it's written by a British author for a British audience and hasn't been changed for the American edition. There are quite a few differences, most notably the use of the Oxford comma, where British usage is "A, B and C" (as in the book title) and American usage is "A, B, and C." Your best bet might be a quick read of the comma section of the Chicago Manual of Style if you can find it in a library.
Reply With Quote
  #16  
Old 07-23-2004, 08:48 AM
nvexio's Avatar
nvexio nvexio is offline
Stay Puft!
 
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Tennessee
Gender: Male
Posts: CCLVII
Default Re: Commas

I, however, think that, you know, if it rains, like, inside, that's bad.

that's the closest i could get to using a shitload of commas correctly (and i use correctly losely)...
Reply With Quote
  #17  
Old 07-23-2004, 12:28 PM
JoeP's Avatar
JoeP JoeP is offline
Solipsist
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Kolmannessa kerroksessa
Gender: Male
Posts: XXXVMMXI
Images: 18
Default Re: Commas

Quote:
Originally Posted by livius drusus
God, I hate ellipsis abuse. Hate it. I feel like every sentence is written by Shatner ca 1968.
dude...wotz ellipsis???

:abducted:

That's better. Normal communication restored.
__________________

:roadrun:
Free thought! Please take one!

:unitedkingdom:   :southafrica:   :unitedkingdom::finland:   :finland:
Reply With Quote
  #18  
Old 07-23-2004, 12:32 PM
nvexio's Avatar
nvexio nvexio is offline
Stay Puft!
 
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Tennessee
Gender: Male
Posts: CCLVII
Default Re: Commas

....................... lolol
Reply With Quote
  #19  
Old 07-23-2004, 02:08 PM
livius drusus's Avatar
livius drusus livius drusus is offline
Admin of THIEVES and SLUGABEDS
 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: LVCCCLXXII
Images: 5
Default Re: Commas

Evil.
Reply With Quote
Reply

  Freethought Forum > The Marketplace > Arts & Literature


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

 

All times are GMT +1. The time now is 06:43 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.2
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Page generated in 0.34189 seconds with 13 queries