Need non-food help from some of our English editors:
- Thread starter marilynfl
- Start date
shaun-in-to
Well-known member
No, Sister Gabriel was wrong. Those nuns keep us editors plenty busy.
melissa-dallas
Well-known member
You should have a style manual so that you are consistent. You also might want to have
a separate one for the U.K. When I did technical writing we used the Chicago Manual of Style. Wikipedia lists several that are used in the U.K.
a separate one for the U.K. When I did technical writing we used the Chicago Manual of Style. Wikipedia lists several that are used in the U.K.
steve2-in-la
Well-known member
Hey, you can't fool me. There IS no Sanity clause!
I did not attend a Catholic school (evidenced by my grammar) but I do remember...
that my nun instructor for confirmation class threatened one poor soul by informing him that she would take a knife from her pocketbook and pin his ears to the blackboard if he didn't answer correctly.
that my nun instructor for confirmation class threatened one poor soul by informing him that she would take a knife from her pocketbook and pin his ears to the blackboard if he didn't answer correctly.
patbastrop
Well-known member
chicago Manual of Style: "When the clauses of a compound sentence are joined by a conjunction,
a comma is usually placed before the conjunction unless the clauses are short and closely related." 5.30.
Your example, with the subject understood in the second sentence is a compound sentence.
The text goes on to say that "In contemporary writing, the comma is often omitted, but this open style should be followed only when there is little or no risk of misreading."
In other words, either way would probably be correct.
a comma is usually placed before the conjunction unless the clauses are short and closely related." 5.30.
Your example, with the subject understood in the second sentence is a compound sentence.
The text goes on to say that "In contemporary writing, the comma is often omitted, but this open style should be followed only when there is little or no risk of misreading."
In other words, either way would probably be correct.
patbastrop
Well-known member
and, of course, I mis-typed the d*mn name of the text, Chicago Manual of Style. grrrrr
No, I know 
) I was just curious about
Shaun's use of the comma between the word "before" and the word "after" - not criticizing at all, but asking a real question. Hey, I'm the one that went in to my "grammar" advisor what seemed like 1500 times for grammatical reviews of my thesis ;o)
I wish I had had you guys on my committee instead - he was a grouch.
) I was just curious aboutShaun's use of the comma between the word "before" and the word "after" - not criticizing at all, but asking a real question. Hey, I'm the one that went in to my "grammar" advisor what seemed like 1500 times for grammatical reviews of my thesis ;o)
I wish I had had you guys on my committee instead - he was a grouch.
lana-in-fl
Well-known member
It's called an Oxford comma, and it seems that its main function is to have people argue about it
Like Joanietoo, I was taught it was wrong, but saw it in American books. Apparently it's not always right even here. Here's a brief explanation from
Ask the Experts
(this is a link but it doesn't come up blue on my screen, have no idea why)
and a much longer one from Wikipedia (also a link) if you are interested.
I had never heard the name until this very same argument broke out on the mystery listserv I read.
Like Joanietoo, I was taught it was wrong, but saw it in American books. Apparently it's not always right even here. Here's a brief explanation from
Ask the Experts
(this is a link but it doesn't come up blue on my screen, have no idea why)
and a much longer one from Wikipedia (also a link) if you are interested.
I had never heard the name until this very same argument broke out on the mystery listserv I read.
Oh my, these post made me remember my Catholic upbringing and the nuns at our local church
and school. They were so strict (mean) and not loving at all. Mom took me out of there prior to the sixth grade and from then on, I was on my way to becoming the person I was meant to be.
and school. They were so strict (mean) and not loving at all. Mom took me out of there prior to the sixth grade and from then on, I was on my way to becoming the person I was meant to be.